Hcg pregnancy test results blood

HCG blood test - quantitative

Medical Tests

Definition

A quantitative human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) test measures the specific level of HCG in the blood. HCG is a hormone produced in the body during pregnancy.

Other HCG tests include:

HCG urine test
HCG blood test -- qualitative

Alternative Names

Serial beta HCG; Repeat quantitative beta HCG; Human chorionic gonadotropin blood test - quantitative; Beta-HCG blood test - quantitative; Pregnancy test - blood - quantitative

How the Test is Performed

A blood sample is needed. This is most often taken from a vein. The procedure is called a venipuncture.

How to Prepare for the Test

No special preparation is needed.

How the Test will Feel

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.

Why the Test is Performed

HCG appears in the blood and urine of pregnant women as early as 10 days after conception. Quantitative HCG measurement helps determine the exact age of the fetus. It can also assist in the diagnosis of abnormal pregnancies, such as ectopic pregnancies, molar pregnancies, and possible miscarriages. It is also used as part of a screening test for Down syndrome.

This test is also done to diagnose abnormal conditions not related to pregnancy that can raise HCG level.

Normal Results

Results are given in milli-international units per milliliter (mUI/mL).

Normal levels are found in:

Non-pregnant women: less than 5 mIU/mL
Healthy men: less than 2 mIU/mL

In pregnancy, HCG level rises rapidly during the first trimester and then declines slightly. The expected HCG ranges in pregnant women are based on the length of the pregnancy.

3 weeks: 5 - 72 mIU/mL
4 weeks: 10 -708 mIU/mL
5 weeks: 217 - 8,245 mIU/mL
6 weeks: 152 - 32,177 mIU/mL
7 weeks: 4,059 - 153,767 mIU/mL
8 weeks: 31,366 - 149,094 mIU/mL
9 weeks: 59,109 - 135,901 mIU/mL
10 weeks: 44,186 - 170,409 mIU/mL
12 weeks: 27,107 - 201,165 mIU/mL
14 weeks: 24,302 - 93,646 mIU/mL
15 weeks: 12,540 - 69,747 mIU/mL
16 weeks: 8,904 - 55,332 mIU/mL
17 weeks: 8,240 - 51,793 mIU/mL
18 weeks: 9,649 - 55,271 mIU/mL

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test result.

What Abnormal Results Mean

Higher than normal level may indicate:

More than one fetus, for example, twins or triplets
Choriocarcinoma of the uterus
Hydatidiform mole of the uterus
Ovarian cancer
Testicular cancer (in men)

During pregnancy, lower than normal levels based on the gestational age may indicate:

Fetal death
Incomplete miscarriage
Threatened spontaneous abortion (miscarriage)
Ectopic pregnancy

Risks

Risks of having blood drawn are slight, but may include:

Excessive bleeding
Fainting or feeling lightheaded
Blood accumulating under the skin (hematoma)
Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)

References

Jain S, Pincus MR, Bluth MH, McPherson RA, Bowne WB, Lee P. Diagnosis and management of cancer using serological and other body fluid markers. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 23rd ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2017:chap 74.

Jeelani R, Bluth MH. Reproductive function and pregnancy. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 23rd ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2017:chap 25.

University of Iowa Diagnostic Laboratories. Test directory: HCG - pregnancy, serum, quantitative. www.healthcare.uiowa.edu/path_handbook/rhandbook/test1549.html. Updated December 14, 2017. Accessed February 18, 2019.

Yarbrough ML, Stout M, Gronowski AM. Pregnancy and its disorders. In: Rifai N, ed. Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics. 6th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2018:chap 69.

Review Date: 09/25/2018

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright ©2019 A.D.A.M., Inc., as modified by University of California San Francisco. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Information developed by A.D.A.M., Inc. regarding tests and test results may not directly correspond with information provided by UCSF Health. Please discuss with your doctor any questions or concerns you may have.

HCG blood test - qualitative Information | Mount Sinai

Beta-HCG in blood serum - qualitative; Human chorionic gonadotrophin - serum - qualitative; Pregnancy test - blood - qualitative; Serum HCG - qualitative; HCG in blood serum - qualitative

A qualitative HCG blood test checks if there is a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin in your blood. HCG is a hormone produced in the body during pregnancy.

Other HCG tests include:

HCG urine test
Quantitative pregnancy test (checks specific level of HCG in your blood)

Blood is drawn from a vein (venipuncture), usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. Preparation may vary depending on the specific test.

How the Test is Performed

A blood sample is needed. This is most often taken from a vein. The procedure is called a venipuncture.

How to Prepare for the Test

No special preparation is needed.

How the Test will Feel

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.

Why the Test is Performed

Most often, this test is performed to determine if you are pregnant. HCG level in the blood may also be high in women with certain types of ovarian tumors or in men with testicular tumors.

Normal Results

The test result will be reported as negative or positive.

The test is negative if you are not pregnant.
The test is positive if you are pregnant.

What Abnormal Results Mean

If your blood HCG is positive and you DO NOT have a pregnancy properly implanted in the uterus, it may indicate:

Ectopic pregnancy
Miscarriage
Testicular cancer (in men)
Trophoblastic tumor
Hydatidiform mole
Ovarian cancer

Risks

Risks of having blood drawn are slight, but may include:

Excessive bleeding
Fainting or feeling lightheaded
Blood accumulating under the skin (hematoma)
Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)

Considerations

False positive tests may occur when certain hormones are increased, such as after menopause or when taking hormone supplements.

A pregnancy test is considered to be very accurate. When the test is negative but pregnancy is still suspected, the test should be repeated in 1 week.

Geno KA, Cervinski MA, Nerenz RD. Pregnancy and the fetus. In: Winter WE, Holmquist B, Sokoll LJ, Berthholf RL, eds. Handbook of Diagnostic Endocrinology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 15.

Yarbrough ML, Stout M, Gronowski AM. Pregnancy and its disorders. In: Rifai N, ed. Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics. 6th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2018:chap 69.

Last reviewed on: 12/2/2020

Reviewed by: LaQuita Martinez, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emory Johns Creek Hospital, Alpharetta, GA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

how to pass, explanation of indicators, whether it is possible to take it in early pregnancy, cost .

But it will come in handy in some other cases.

What is hCG

Human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone produced by placental cells during pregnancy. A small amount of hCG is also produced in the pituitary gland.

Most commonly, hCG levels are measured using one of two blood tests.

Free beta-hCG is taken during prenatal screenings of the first and second trimesters: at 11-14 and 15-20 weeks of pregnancy. This is one of the ways to diagnose chromosomal pathologies, which we will return to later.

Another test for free beta-hCG is prescribed for the diagnosis of malignant neoplasms:

in women - choriocarcinoma, hydatidiform mole;
in men - testicular cancer.

Generic beta hCG. To diagnose pregnancy, it is the total beta-hCG, which is often called simply hCG or hCG analysis, that is used. Any laboratory will understand what you mean if you say that you need an hCG analysis for pregnant women.

Total beta-hCG begins to be produced 6-8 days after ovulation. It promotes the production of progesterone, supports the growth of the placenta, promotes the growth of the fetus.

/pregnancy/

How much does it cost to carry a baby

There are two more types of hCG hormones, but they are not of great importance for diagnosis:

Hyperglycosylated hCG, which is synthesized in the second or third week of pregnancy.
Pituitary hCG that mimics the action of luteinizing hormone during the menstrual cycle.

Men also have hCG hormones, albeit in a minimal amount, so calling hCG a pregnancy hormone, although beautiful, is not quite right. In the male body, hCG performs an important function - it causes the testicles to produce testosterone.

Further in the article we will mainly talk about the analysis for total hCG in the body of a woman, because it is taken most often.

How hCG levels are determined

HCG levels are determined using tests that show the concentration of the hormone in urine or blood. If it is below 5 mIU / ml, the analysis is negative, within 5-25 mIU / ml it is doubtful, and a concentration above 25 mIU / ml indicates pregnancy.

Human chorionic gonadotropin - Medscape

HCG levels can be measured using test strips, digital urine tests sold in supermarkets, and a blood test for hCG from a vein that is done in a laboratory.

Strips and digital tests are convenient for home use: no special knowledge or reagents are needed to perform the test and evaluate the result. It is important to remember that pregnancy test strips often do not show it until a missed period. The reason is that in the urine the level of the hormone increases later than in the blood.

Test strips usually do a qualitative analysis for hCG: they answer “yes” if the hormone detection threshold is exceeded, and “no” if the hormone level in the blood has not reached the threshold level. Their sensitivity starts from 20-50 mIU / ml, and this is written in the instructions. But some digital tests can show the approximate duration of pregnancy in weeks: one, two or three, or three or more weeks. There is little benefit from this: anyway, only a blood test gives accurate data.

A blood or urine test in the laboratory is always quantitative and allows you to find out the exact concentration of hCG. For such an analysis, you will need venous blood or the first portion of morning urine.

What to do? 12.12.19

In the clinic they force you to buy a container for tests

The sensitivity threshold of the Clearblue Plus test is 25 mIU / ml The sensitivity of the Evitest tests is 20 mIU / ml

How to donate blood for an hCG test

When to take an hCG test. It makes sense to take an analysis for hCG no earlier than the first day of missed menstruation. In some cases, it is possible even 2-3 days earlier: if, according to the terms from intercourse, pregnancy is already possible.

Where to get tested for hCG. In Russia, a blood test for total hCG to check for pregnancy is accepted by most commercial laboratories. It can also be taken in private clinics that do tests on their own equipment or send them to a specialized laboratory.

Before testing for hCG, no examination or referral from a doctor is needed: it can be taken at any laboratory for a fee.

How to prepare. Before taking hCG, different laboratories give different recommendations: from "preferably in the morning and on an empty stomach" to "strictly on an empty stomach, do not drink or smoke an hour before the analysis." In Europe and the USA, there are no restrictions before surrender at all. At the same time, if you plan to take the analysis several times, it makes sense to do it at the same time of day - this way the result will be more objective.

HCG blood test - Walk-In Lab, USA

Cost of analysis

Prices valid in Moscow at the time of publication and include blood sampling from a vein.

In the laboratory:

"Invitro" - 810 R;
"Hemotest" - 760 R, called b-hCG;
CMD - 685 R.

In a private clinic:

Chaika - 1400 R;
"Family" - 1100 R;
"TsIR" - 770 R.

A blood test for hCG to check for pregnancy can be taken according to compulsory health insurance. To do this, you need to get a referral from a gynecologist at a clinic or antenatal clinic. But there is no point in this saving.

/analiz/

You are entitled to free tests under CHI

The queue for tests can stretch for two weeks, waiting for results - for a week or more. Outdated by three weeks - yes, at least for three days, because the level of hCG during pregnancy is constantly growing - the analysis for hCG for pregnant women is useful only to a medical institution for reporting.

Obtaining and interpretation of a blood test for hCG

Analysis accuracy. During pregnancy, the level of hCG in the blood increases by 2 times every 1.4-2.1 days until at least 10 weeks of pregnancy. Therefore, tests taken at different times on the same day will show different numbers.

Physiology of Pregnancy - MSD Handbook

HCG levels between 5 and 25 mIU/mL are considered questionable and should be retested.

Test results are reported with an accuracy of 1 milliunit per milliliter or nanogram per milliliter. Error in the results is possible, but it is usually associated with incorrect analysis or expired reagents.

In the analyzes of different laboratories, there may be different units of measurement of hCG. The most common are mIU/ml = mU/ml = mIU/ml = mU/ml. All of them are equal to each other:

mIU / ml is the milliinternational unit per milliliter;
mU/ml - milliunit per milliliter;
miU/ml — Million International Unit per milliliter in English spelling;
mU/ml is a milliunit per milliliter in English spelling.

If IU/l, U/l, IU/ml are found in the analysis, they mean the same thing, but not in milliunits per milliliter, but in units per liter. To convert one unit to another, a calculator is useful.

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Are you ready to have a baby?

HCG norms by week. The reference values themselves in laboratories may also differ slightly. This may be due to test manufacturers and analysis standards. The main indicator is an increase in the level of hCG up to 11 weeks of pregnancy.

When evaluating the results, it is important to remember that hCG is calculated by weeks of pregnancy from conception - the embryonic period. It is 2-3 weeks less than the obstetric period, counted from the first day of the last menstruation.

HCG norms by week in different laboratories

Pregnancy from conception	Hemotest, Helix, mIU/ml	Invitro, honey/ml
Not pregnant	Less than 5	Less than 5
2 weeks	9. 5-750	25-300
3 weeks	217-7138	1500-5000
4 weeks	1580-31 795	10,000-30,000
5 weeks	3697—163 563	20,000-100,000
6 weeks	32065-149571	20,000 - 225,000 up to 11 weeks
7 weeks	63 803—151 410	-
8 weeks	46509-186977	-
9 weeks	27,832—210,612	-
10 weeks	13,950—62,530	-
11-12 weeks	12,039—70,971	19,000-135,000 (12 weeks)
13-14 weeks	9040—56,451	18,000-100,000 (13 weeks) 14,000-80,000 (14 weeks)
15 weeks	8175—55 868	12000-68000
16 weeks	8099—58,176	10,000-58,000
17-18 weeks	-	8000-57,000
Male	Less than 5	Less than 5

NOT PREATED

HEMOTEST, Helix, MME/ml

less than 5

Invitro, Med/ml

less than 5

Pregnancy from conception - 2 weeks

Hemothest, Helix, MME/ml

9. 5–750

Invitro, MLUST/ML

25-300

3 weeks

Hemothest, Helix MME/ml

217-7138

Invitro, Med/ml

1500-5000

4 weeks

Hemetest, Helix, MME/ML

1580–31 795

Invitro, IU/ml

10,000—30,000

5 weeks

Hemotest, Helix, mIU/ml

3697-163 563

Invitro, Med/ml

20 000-100 000

6 weeks

Helix, MME/ML

32 065-149 571

Invitro, Med/ml

20 000-225 000 to 11 weeks

7 weeks

Hemothest, Helix, MME/ml

63 803–151 410

Invitro, Medary /ml

—

8 weeks

Hemotest, Helix, mIU/ml

46509–186 977

Invitro, medical/ml

9 weeks

Hemothest, Helix, MME/ml

27 832–210 612

Invitro, ML

10 weeks

Hemothest, Helix, MME/ml

13 950-62 530

Invitro, ML

11-12 weeks

Hemotest, Helix, mIU/ml

12,039—70,971

Invitro, mU/ml

19 000-135 000 (12 weeks)

13-14 weeks

Hemothest, Helix, MME/ml

9040-56 451

Invitro, Med/ml

18 000 —100,000 (13 weeks)
14,000–80,000 (13 weeks)

15 weeks

Hemotest, Helix, mIU/ml ml

12000-68000

16 weeks

Hemotest, Helix, mIU/ml

8099-58176

Invitro, Med/ml

10 000-58 000

17-18 weeks

Hemothest, Helix, MME/ml

Invitro, MLUST/ML

8000-57 000

Male

HEMOTEST, Helix, MME/ml

less than 5

Invitro, Med/Ml

less than 5

Enlargia increases in multiple pregnancy several times compared to pregnancy with one child. For example, when carrying twins in the early stages, the level of hCG can be three times higher than in the case of a singleton pregnancy. If one of the fetuses dies, the hCG level drops.

Indicators after IVF do not differ from hCG values during normal pregnancy. But the hormone level is checked daily from the fifth to the twenty-first day after the transfer of the embryo into the uterus. This is necessary in order to track the success of in vitro fertilization. If the hCG values are below the norm by more than 20%, the woman is given hCG injections. If the level of the hormone does not increase at all, then the embryo did not take root.

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How much does IVF cost

An example of an analysis for hCG by week. I will share my personal experience gained in 2009.

Possible discrepancies

The analysis is positive, the pregnancy test is negative. This happens if you first use the strip, and then donate blood in the laboratory. In this case, it is worth trusting a blood test for hCG to diagnose pregnancy. In urine, the concentration of hCG increases with a lag behind blood, in addition, the test may be of poor quality or have a too high sensitivity threshold. The probability of error in a laboratory test for hCG is minimal.

How much we spent on pregnancy management in a private clinic

Pregnancy test positive, analysis negative. Most likely, the defective test strip is to blame and there is actually no pregnancy. It may be that the pregnancy came and ended almost immediately. In most cases, women are not even aware of it, taking a few days of delay for a small cycle failure.

Causes of an increase in hCG

Pregnancy is the main reason for an increase in hCG. At the same time, if ovulation, and then pregnancy, occurred earlier than the middle of the cycle, the hCG level will be higher than the reference values. An ultrasound can be done to clarify the date.

Taking hormonal preparations containing human chorionic gonadotropin as an active ingredient. Their full list is in the Register of Medicines of Russia. Common trade names: Horagon, Pregnil, Profazi.

Trophoblastic tumors are the result of genetic disorders of pregnancy, the general name for tumors derived from elements of the placenta. They can appear both during pregnancy and after it ends with an abortion or miscarriage. If the level of hCG is elevated, and the woman is no longer pregnant, she needs to be examined by an oncogynecologist.

Trophoblastic tumors. Clinical Guidelines - Medi-ru

Gestational Trophoblastic Disease - MSD Handbook

Causes of low hCG during pregnancy

Ectopic or ectopic pregnancy. If the embryo develops outside the uterus, the hCG level will rise slowly and lag behind normal reference values. To diagnose an ectopic pregnancy, it is also necessary to do an ultrasound scan.

Ectopic Pregnancy - MSD Manual

Anembryonic. In the absence of an embryo in the uterine cavity, hCG levels continue to rise until spontaneous or medical abortion. Lagging behind the norms of concentration in the first trimester of pregnancy - up to 8 times, but the hormone level does not stop growing. Anembryony is dangerous for a woman, but the diagnosis must be confirmed by several ultrasounds and only after that an abortion should be performed.

Illegal pregnancy. In this case, the hCG level will rise normally while the embryo is developing. If the pregnancy has stopped, the growth of hCG will slow down, and after a miscarriage or abortion it will gradually decrease.

Child developmental delay. An analysis for hCG in this situation is not a basis for making a diagnosis: it is necessary to do an ultrasound scan to determine the cause of the fetal lag in development from the gestational age.

Threat of miscarriage. The growth of hCG begins to slow down 5-6 days before a possible miscarriage.

Placental dysfunctions. In this case, hCG is growing more slowly than usual. To detect placental insufficiency, together with hCG, PAPP-A, a plasma pregnancy-associated protein-A, is taken at the first screening.

Incorrect determination of the gestational age. If ovulation and then pregnancy occurred later than the middle of the cycle, the hCG level will be below the reference values. An ultrasound can be done to clarify the date.

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Causes of an increase in free beta-hCG

This test for another type of hormone is taken during screening of the first and second trimesters of pregnancy. It indicates possible chromosomal pathologies of the child.

Violation of the number of chromosomes:

Down syndrome is a pathology of the 21st pair of chromosomes. Such children have features of physical and mental development;
Edwards syndrome is a pathology of the 18th pair of chromosomes. They weigh less than normal newborns and have multiple malformations. Only 5-10% of children with Edwards syndrome survive to a year. They all have serious problems with learning and with general development;
Patau syndrome is a pathology of the 13th pair of chromosomes. Such children are also born with lower weight, multiple malformations and rarely live to be a year old.

Change in the number of sex chromosomes:

polysomy — extra X or Y chromosomes. People with polysomy sometimes have intellectual disabilities and health problems;
Shereshevsky-Turner syndrome is the absence or defect of the X chromosome in girls. They differ from their peers in shorter stature, external features, such as low-set ears, often have problems with the heart, kidneys, and delayed sexual development;
polyploidy - two or three sets of chromosomes instead of one. According to some reports, polyploidy is the cause of every tenth miscarriage.

Remember

HCG is an important pregnancy hormone that allows you to determine it in the early stages, as well as to make sure that it is proceeding normally.
The level of hCG in urine rises later than the level of hCG in the blood, so home test strips will show that pregnancy has occurred later than a blood test.
The level of hCG in the body of a pregnant woman doubles every 1.4-2.1 days until 10-11 weeks of pregnancy.
Lagging hCG levels from reference values may indicate problems with pregnancy, or may be a sign of an incorrect calculation of the gestational age.
An increase in the level of hCG at times may be a sign of multiple pregnancy, chromosomal abnormalities, or an incorrect calculation of the gestational age.
In some cases, the hCG blood test is used to diagnose serious illnesses in women outside of pregnancy and in men.

Early pregnancy blood test - why and how to donate blood

Pregnancy blood test is a procedure that is necessary to identify existing pathologies. It also allows you to determine the very presence of pregnancy, since it detects the presence in the blood of a woman of a hormone called "chorionic gonadotropin" (hCG).

In a situation where conception has not occurred, this substance is not produced in the patient's body, since its appearance is associated with the formation of the chorion. This is the tissue that occurs between the endometrium and the zygote after the attachment of a fertilized egg to the wall of the uterus.

Reasons for testing

A blood test can show pregnancy as early as six days after a successful conception. Whereas a standard pregnancy test in some cases can give incorrect results. Therefore, tests during pregnancy are prescribed to determine conditions such as:

Establishment of the actual fact of conception
Assessment of hormonal background for failures
Pathological Pregnancy Tracker:

Frozen - in this case, at a certain stage, the embryo stops its development
Ectopic - in this situation, the zygote is not attached to the wall of the uterus, but in the fallopian tube

Also, a blood test shows the presence of infections, other types of dysfunctions of the body and diseases such as:

Cytomegalovirus
Diphtheria
Tetanus
Herpes
Chlamydia
Hepatitis
Ureaplasmosis
HIV
Mycoplasmosis
Syphilis
Leptospirosis
Chlamydia

Any of these diseases is a danger not only to the body of the woman herself, but also to her unborn child. Therefore, if there are deviations in the results of the blood test, the doctor sends the patient for an additional examination.

Changes in hCG during pregnancy

After the physical onset of conception, the level of hCG in the female body begins to rise, and every two to three days its concentration almost doubles. It reaches its highest level at 8-11 weeks, and then it begins to gradually decrease.

The first analysis can be taken on the 6th day of the expected delay, but the result will be more accurate on the 11-12th day. Therefore, doctors recommend undergoing a blood test two to three times (every two days later).

Controlling the level of hCG allows you to track the dynamics of pregnancy, the appearance of pathologies, etc.:

In ectopic pregnancy, the level of the hormone practically does not increase
If the development of the embryo has stopped, then the level of hCG drops from the moment of its death

Usually the result of the analysis is compared with a special table. In the first or second weeks, the concentration of hCG can range from 25 to 700 units, at the peak of the value it can reach 18,000–240,000 units, and at the end of the gestational age - 2,179-60,000 units.

After establishing the fact of conception, the doctor refers the patient to other blood tests:

General
Biochemical
For clotting
For hepatitis and HIV
For TORCH infections
For genetic pathologies
For Rh factor and blood group (if not previously determined)
For the content of hormones produced by the thyroid gland
Antiphospholipid syndrome
For STDs

Causes of deviation from the norm of the hormone hCG

Normally, after the onset of pregnancy, the level of human chorionic gonadotropin should gradually increase. If it decreases, then the doctor may assume the presence of such problems as:

In the early stages:

Fetal death
Probability of spontaneous termination of pregnancy
Absence of an embryo in the ovum

Late term:

Placental abruption

In some cases, a low level of hCG may be associated with an incorrectly calculated gestational age. Therefore, in order to determine the exact cause of low hormone levels, early pregnancy tests are usually performed, as well as several types of other examinations.

Causes of an increase in hCG levels

In the results of blood tests, the level of hCG can be seriously higher than normal for the following reasons:

Presence of toxicosis
More than one fetus
Occurrence of hydatidiform mole
Presence of genetic problems
Complication due to diabetes mellitus

The level of human chorionic gonadotropin can be increased not only due to pregnancy, but also due to some abnormalities:

Extremely high hCG levels due to hormonal drugs
The presence of a malignant neoplasm in various organs (kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, uterus, lungs, etc.)
Preservation of unstable hormonal levels as a result of an abortion

In rare cases, in the presence of serious hormonal disorders, men can also be found to have elevated levels of hCG.

Preparation for procedure

The following preparations are required before taking hCG tests for pregnant women:

Fasting for 7-8 hours before the procedure
Limiting the intake of any liquid a few hours before the examination

Also tell your doctor if you are taking any medications.

Statistics show that the highest concentration of hCG in the blood is observed in the first half of the day, so the doctor usually prescribes such an analysis in the morning.

If the recommendations are not followed, the study may show an unreliable result, so additional procedures will have to be carried out.

How blood sampling is performed

Blood tests for pregnant women are taken from a vein in the area located on the inside of the arm at the elbow. The procedure is as follows:

The patient sits on a couch or chair and exposes her left or right arm
Medic applying a tourniquet above the elbow
After that, the woman performs several clenching of the palm into a fist
The doctor lubricates the area of the future puncture with a disinfectant
Then he inserts the needle into the vein and fills the syringe (about 10 ml of blood is needed for the test)
After that, the tourniquet is removed, and a cotton swab is applied to the puncture area, which the patient must hold with her arm bent at the elbow (this helps to stop the release of fluid from the wound)

After these manipulations, the blood in the test tube is sent to the laboratory for analysis.

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