Aim: To determine the feasibility of using colloidal gold immunochromatography for rapid identification of parathyroid glands during thyroidectomy. Material and methods: 127 patients undergoing thyroidectomy were randomly divided into PTH-ICGT group (64 cases) and conventional naked eye group (63 cases). The rate of identification of parathyroid glands and the incidence of hypoparathyroidism were compared between the two groups. Results: PTH-CGI assay results showed that PTH concentration in the parathyroid tissue was (955.3 +/- 161) ng/L; skeletal muscle tissue [(14.5 +/- 1.5) ng/L], thyroid tissue [(15.0 +/- 1.3) ng/L], adipose tissue [(15.3 +/- 1.2) ng/L], lymph node tissue [(14.0 +/- 1.2) ng/L];PTH levels in parathyroid tissues were compared with PTH levels in skeletal muscle, thyroid, fat, and lymph node tissues, respectively. The differences were statistically significant(t values were 23.62, 33.42, 39.34, 30.77, P < 0.0001, respectively); Among the 127 patients undergoing total thyroidectomy, the rate of detection of parathyroid glands was 92.7% in the conventional naked eye group and 96.4% in the PTH-ICGT group. There was no significant difference in the detection rate of parathyroid gland between the two groups (chi 2 = 0.7067, P = 0.40). The incidence of temporary hypoparathyroidism after surgery in both groups was 11.3% and 5.7%, respectively (chi 2 =1.093, P > 0.05). The incidence of postoperative permanent hypoparathyroidism in both groups was 3.8% and 0, respectively (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.495). Conclusion: PTH-CGI has a high efficiency in identifying parathyroid glands, which may increase the rate of clinical parathyroid detection and reduce the incidence of postoperative hypoparathyroidism. (C) 2018 Published by Elsevier Inc.