A form of PTH produced in tumours which is highly bioactive but may not be detectable in routine assays. If a patient is hypercalcaemic and has a raised PTHrP they have a 99% chance of having a malignancy (very specific). If PTHrP is elevated this is the main cause of the hypercalcaemia in the vast majority of these cases. It should be noted however that 12 to 15% of patients with PTHrp malignancy may have concurrent primary hyperparathyroidism, treatment of which can result in normalisation of the calcium.
Tube
04 (EP) – EDTA Plasma
ID
Tests&Tubes0227
Additional Information
PTHrp is only available after discussion with the Duty Biochemist (0113 39 26922 option 2). ***Please see information for collection conditions***
Turn Around
Turnaround time stated by Biomnis: 14 days.
Send to
CfLM (Test referred to Eurofins)
Contact
For further details please contact Leeds Pathology customer services: [email protected].
Advice
Full information on all referred tests can be found on the referred tests information database, Q Pulse reference BSHC-REC-323.
Collection Con
Instructions to sender:
- Sample must be collected during normal working hours.
- Collect sample into ice-cooled EDTA plasma tube.
- Sample must be sent on ice and sent to the lab ASAP after collection (sample must arrive at the lab within 1 hour of collection).
Instructions to the lab:
- Upon receipt, sample must be centrifuged in a refrigerated centrifuge, the plasma should be taken off and transferred to a plastic vial and frozen immediately.
- The plasma should be frozen within 2 hours of sample collection.
- Please write on the outside of the box that the box contains a sample for PTHrP
- Do not send the sample alongside any other samples.
Sample REQ
Blood.
Minimum volume: 1 ml plasma.
Ref. Range Notes
≤ 4.2 pmol/L
Please note new reference range as of June 2026.
Units
pmol/L