March 16, 2026 - Due to unexpected and significant supply chain disruption, we cannot measure parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) using our current assay, effective immediately. As a result, our parathyroid hormone-related protein test (20004) and our malignancy profile (20030) will be unavailable for several weeks while we work to validate a new assay.
During this period, our parathyroid hormone and ionized calcium profile (20033) should be ordered instead of the malignancy profile. The difference between these two profiles is the additional measurement of PTHrP in the malignancy profile. While measurement of PTHrP adds support for humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy, it is important to remember that a normal (or negative) concentration of PTHrP does not exclude the possibility of malignancy. Malignancy may still be present even if the PTHrP concentration is not increased.
We know this is an important diagnostic test for our clients and the patients entrusted to their care. We are committed to bringing the PTHrP test back as quickly as possible, but we will not sacrifice test quality and reliability for the sake of expediency. We will provide an update when we have a clearer timeline for when the test will be available.
What about samples already submitted?
Samples already submitted for either standalone PTHrP or malignancy profile will be processed and results released over the next few days until we have depleted our remaining supply of reagents.
After that supply is depleted, test requests for standalone PTHrP (20004) will be cancelled. Test requests for malignancy profiles (20030) will be cancelled and the parathyroid hormone and ionized calcium profile (20033) will be ordered.
Can samples be stored for testing to be completed later?
Unfortunately, due to sample stability and the timeline for validating a new assay, samples cannot be stored for future testing.
What do clients need to do?
Effective immediately, do not send samples to the Laboratory for parathyroid hormone-related protein (20004).
If you have cases of hypercalcemia, it is recommended that samples be submitted for measurement of parathyroid hormone and ionized calcium (20033).
Is there somewhere else that can perform this testing?
To our knowledge, we are the only veterinary diagnostic laboratory that measures parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP). PTHrP measurement is widely used in human medicine and is performed almost exclusively by human laboratories.