Surgical treatment of hyperparathyroidism relies on the ability to accurately identify parathyroid tissue. The use of fine-needle aspirate (FNA) with measurement of intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels in suspected parathyroid cysts or adenomas is used to identify parathyroid tissue and has been proven to be a useful surgical adjunct in the treatment of hyperparathyroidism.
Specimen Type
Body Fluid
Container
Sterile
Collection Instructions
Container/Tube: Sterile Transport Tube Specimen: 1mL fine needle aspirate(FNA) (0.8mL min) Alternative Specimen(s) Parathyroid-tissue washings • Non-lymph node washings • Non-nodal soft tissue washings or cervical node washings collected in a sterile transport tube Transport Temperature: Frozen Stability: 2 Hours Room Temperature 48 Hours Refrigerated 28 Days Frozen Collection Instructions A 25-gauge needle is inserted obliquely within the transducer plane of view and moved back and forth (passes) through the nodule to compensate for patient movement and needle deflection. There is no suction device; cells move into the needle via capillary action. After collection of the cytology samples, withdraw between 0.10 and 0.25 mL of saline up through each needle and empty this fluid back through the needle into a tube. This is the needle washing used for analysis. Repeat the passes and saline washings from the same biopsied site and empty contents into the same tube. The washes from all needles are pooled (final volume 1 mL). Inspect specimen for visible blood or tissue contamination. If bloody, centrifuge specimen and transfer supernatant to a new tube to send to the laboratory. The supernatant, not the cellular materials, is used for analysis. If the specimen is clear, centrifugation is not necessary. Freeze immediately and transport frozen sample to laboratory directly. Do not send specimens in glass tubes.
Transport Instructions
Specimen Stability
2 Hours Room Temperature 48 Hours Refrigerated 28 Days Frozen
