Intraoperative vs central laboratory PTH testing caring parathyroidectomy surgery

Intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) testing can be performed rapidly, directly in the operating room, using the QuiCK-Pak System (Nichols Institute Diagn ostics, San Juan Capistrano, CA) or in a central laboratory using the IMMUL ITE Immunoassay System and Turbo PTH assay (Diagnostic Products, Los Angele s, CA). Correlation between parathyroid hormone values obtained on EDTA pla sma samples using these systems was good (r = 0.84); at 20-minutes after ex cision of a suspected hyperfunctioning parathyroid gland diagnostic agreeme nt between the two systems was 100%. Based on 50 parathyroid gland surgerie s for each of a 3-year contract period, the cost of intraoperative vs centr al laboratory PTH testing per surgery was $760 and $360, respectively. Intr aoperative parathyroid hormone testing using the QuiCK-Pak System provides faster, more reliable turnaround time for intraoperative PTH results and ha s other advantages over central laboratory PTH testing during parathyroid g land surgery.