Quick parathyroid hormone assays: a comprehensive review of their utility in clinical practice

Continuous development of quick parathyroid hormone assays has resulted in a corresponding expansion of their applications in the practical landscape. In-theatre measurement of the parathyroid hormone has long been recognized as a valuable adjunct in parathyroid surgery, with other applications being incorporated in thyroid surgery and out-of-theatre uses. Such widespread utilization of these assays has also brought the concept of point-of-care testing to the endocrine surgical patient. We have herein summarized the established and potential applications of these assays, emphasizing their importance in the point-of-care setting, highlighting the proper selection of the assay type for intraoperative hormone monitoring and spotlighting those applications which should be validated for use in the clinical setting and those which need to be investigated further.