Hcg pregnancy test results how to read

How it works and what the results mean

An HCG pregnancy test checks human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) levels in the blood or urine. This measurement means that an HCG test can determine whether a person is pregnant, as well as whether their body is producing the right level of pregnancy hormones.

Typically, HCG levels increase steadily during the first trimester, peak, then decline in the second and third trimesters as the pregnancy progresses.

Doctors may order several HCG blood tests over several days to monitor how a person’s HCG levels change. This HCG trend can help doctors determine how a pregnancy is developing.

Key points to know about HCG pregnancy tests include the following:

Home pregnancy tests are about 99% accurate when a person takes them correctly.
For the most accurate results, a person should not take an HCG test until after the first missed period.
A home test cannot detect pregnancy complications.

This article looks at HCG levels and how they relate to pregnancy. We also examine the potential results and accuracy of an HCG pregnancy test.

Many people have very low levels of HCG in their blood and urine when they are not pregnant. HCG tests detect elevated levels.

Some tests may not detect pregnancy until HCG has risen to a certain level. Tests that can detect lower levels of HCG may diagnose pregnancy earlier.

Blood tests are typically more sensitive than urine tests. However, many home urine tests are highly sensitive. A 2014 analysis found that four types of home pregnancy tests could detect HCG levels up to 4 days before the expected period, or about 10 days after ovulation for many people.

Cells that become the placenta produce the hormone HCG. A person’s HCG levels quickly rise during the first few weeks of pregnancy.

HCG levels not only signal pregnancy but are also a way to measure whether a pregnancy is developing correctly.

Very low HCG levels may point to a problem with the pregnancy, be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy, or warn that pregnancy loss could occur. Rapidly rising HCG levels can signal a molar pregnancy, a condition that causes a uterine tumor to grow.

Doctors require multiple HCG measurements to track the development of a pregnancy.

HCG levels stop rising late in the first trimester. This leveling out may be why many people experience relief from pregnancy symptoms, such as nausea and fatigue, around this time.

There are two types of HCG tests: qualitative and quantitative.

Qualitative HCG tests

A person can use this type of test to check for elevated HCG levels in the urine or blood. Urine tests are about as accurate as blood tests. A high level of HCG indicates that a person is pregnant.

A negative qualitative HCG test means a person is not pregnant. If they still suspect that they are pregnant, a person should repeat the test after a few days.

False-positive results may occur if hormone levels are high due to menopause or hormone supplements. Some ovarian or testicular tumors may also raise a person’s HCG levels.

Learn more about false-positive pregnancy tests here.

Quantitative HCG tests

Also called a beta HCG test, this blood test measures the specific HCG hormone in your blood in international units per liter (IU/L). The level of HCG helps determine the age of the fetus.

HCG levels rise in the first trimester and then slightly drop. They typically peak at 28,000–210,000 IU/L around 12 weeks after conception.

If HCG is higher than the average pregnancy level, it could indicate more than one fetus.

People must read the urine test instructions and follow them carefully. Most tests use lines to show when a test is positive. The test line does not have to be as dark as the control line to be positive. Any line at all indicates the test is positive.

An individual must check the test within the time frame the instructions indicate. This is typically around 2 minutes.

Test strips can change color as they dry. Some people notice an evaporation line after several minutes. This is a very faint line that may look like a shadow.

Learn everything you need to know about pregnancy tests here.

Each pregnancy is different, but home pregnancy tests are close to 99% accurate if a person uses them as instructed. False-positive results are rarer than false-negative results.

Due to how long it takes for HCG levels to rise, a person can be pregnant and still get a negative test. A positive result usually appears after retesting a few days later.

However, because home pregnancy tests are increasingly sensitive, some can detect very early pregnancies with low HCG levels.

The best time to use an HCG test

For the most accurate results, a person should not take a home pregnancy test until 1–2 weeks after a missed period.

Implantation usually happens a week or so after ovulation. It can take several days for HCG levels to rise high enough for a test to detect the hormone. The earlier a person takes the home pregnancy test, the more difficult it is to detect this hormone.

HCG blood tests can detect pregnancy about 10 days after conception, while urine tests generally take 2 or more weeks.

Although some home pregnancy tests can provide results before the first missed period, the results are usually more accurate after the first day of the missed period.

In addition to testing too early, the following factors can cause a false negative with a urine HCG test:

drinking lots of water so that the urine is very diluted
getting too much or too little urine on the test strip
testing with urine late in the day when it may be weaker

Tests that have passed their expiry date may produce false positives or negatives. Reused tests are not accurate.

In rare cases, a person can have abnormally high levels of HCG even though they are not pregnant. The most common reasons for this include:

a recent pregnancy loss
using certain fertility drugs
molar pregnancy

Less common causes include:

cancer, including tumors that secrete HCG
endocrine disorders, especially pituitary gland issues
unusual antibodies in the blood

HCG tests are very safe. The urine test is risk-free. The blood test can cause brief pain and occasional bruising at the puncture site.

Urine HCG tests can return false-negative results, particularly very early in pregnancy. This can be stressful and demoralizing to people having difficulty becoming pregnant. Blood tests are typically more accurate, though even these may fail to pick up low levels of HCG in early pregnancy.

It is also possible to get an early positive result. Some people get positive tests very early in pregnancy and then experience a pregnancy loss a few days later.

If they had not had an early HCG test, they might not have known they were pregnant. This can be a stressful and alarming experience, with some people experiencing intense grief over the lost pregnancy.

If a person receives a positive HCG pregnancy result, they should make an appointment as soon as possible with a doctor, nurse, or family planning clinic. They will be able to take a follow-up test to confirm the pregnancy and detect any possible complications.

A person can use these appointments to discuss pregnancy with a health care professional who can provide resources and counseling.

Learn more by visiting our pregnancy and parenthood hub here.

Most people first learn about a pregnancy through a home HCG pregnancy test, and many confirm that the pregnancy is healthy with blood HCG testing. Though imperfect, the test is typically reliable, particularly as a pregnancy progresses.

The information that a single HCG test provides cannot differentiate between ectopic pregnancies, molar pregnancies, or other pregnancy complications. Doctors will need further information to identify these pregnancy issues and may request further blood HCG tests to observe a person’s HCG trend.

Although unusually high or low HCG levels can indicate a problem with the pregnancy, this is not always the case.

People who have concerns about the development of the embryo or the pregnancy should ask a healthcare professional about additional testing options.

How it works and what the results mean

Typically, HCG levels increase steadily during the first trimester, peak, then decline in the second and third trimesters as the pregnancy progresses.

Doctors may order several HCG blood tests over several days to monitor how a person’s HCG levels change. This HCG trend can help doctors determine how a pregnancy is developing.

Key points to know about HCG pregnancy tests include the following:

Home pregnancy tests are about 99% accurate when a person takes them correctly.
For the most accurate results, a person should not take an HCG test until after the first missed period.
A home test cannot detect pregnancy complications.

This article looks at HCG levels and how they relate to pregnancy. We also examine the potential results and accuracy of an HCG pregnancy test.

Many people have very low levels of HCG in their blood and urine when they are not pregnant. HCG tests detect elevated levels.

Some tests may not detect pregnancy until HCG has risen to a certain level. Tests that can detect lower levels of HCG may diagnose pregnancy earlier.

Cells that become the placenta produce the hormone HCG. A person’s HCG levels quickly rise during the first few weeks of pregnancy.

HCG levels not only signal pregnancy but are also a way to measure whether a pregnancy is developing correctly.

Doctors require multiple HCG measurements to track the development of a pregnancy.

HCG levels stop rising late in the first trimester. This leveling out may be why many people experience relief from pregnancy symptoms, such as nausea and fatigue, around this time.

There are two types of HCG tests: qualitative and quantitative.

Qualitative HCG tests

A person can use this type of test to check for elevated HCG levels in the urine or blood. Urine tests are about as accurate as blood tests. A high level of HCG indicates that a person is pregnant.

A negative qualitative HCG test means a person is not pregnant. If they still suspect that they are pregnant, a person should repeat the test after a few days.

False-positive results may occur if hormone levels are high due to menopause or hormone supplements. Some ovarian or testicular tumors may also raise a person’s HCG levels.

Learn more about false-positive pregnancy tests here.

Quantitative HCG tests

Also called a beta HCG test, this blood test measures the specific HCG hormone in your blood in international units per liter (IU/L). The level of HCG helps determine the age of the fetus.

HCG levels rise in the first trimester and then slightly drop. They typically peak at 28,000–210,000 IU/L around 12 weeks after conception.

If HCG is higher than the average pregnancy level, it could indicate more than one fetus.

An individual must check the test within the time frame the instructions indicate. This is typically around 2 minutes.

Test strips can change color as they dry. Some people notice an evaporation line after several minutes. This is a very faint line that may look like a shadow.

Learn everything you need to know about pregnancy tests here.

Each pregnancy is different, but home pregnancy tests are close to 99% accurate if a person uses them as instructed. False-positive results are rarer than false-negative results.

Due to how long it takes for HCG levels to rise, a person can be pregnant and still get a negative test. A positive result usually appears after retesting a few days later.

However, because home pregnancy tests are increasingly sensitive, some can detect very early pregnancies with low HCG levels.

The best time to use an HCG test

For the most accurate results, a person should not take a home pregnancy test until 1–2 weeks after a missed period.

HCG blood tests can detect pregnancy about 10 days after conception, while urine tests generally take 2 or more weeks.

Although some home pregnancy tests can provide results before the first missed period, the results are usually more accurate after the first day of the missed period.

In addition to testing too early, the following factors can cause a false negative with a urine HCG test:

drinking lots of water so that the urine is very diluted
getting too much or too little urine on the test strip
testing with urine late in the day when it may be weaker

Tests that have passed their expiry date may produce false positives or negatives. Reused tests are not accurate.

In rare cases, a person can have abnormally high levels of HCG even though they are not pregnant. The most common reasons for this include:

a recent pregnancy loss
using certain fertility drugs
molar pregnancy

Less common causes include:

cancer, including tumors that secrete HCG
endocrine disorders, especially pituitary gland issues
unusual antibodies in the blood

HCG tests are very safe. The urine test is risk-free. The blood test can cause brief pain and occasional bruising at the puncture site.

It is also possible to get an early positive result. Some people get positive tests very early in pregnancy and then experience a pregnancy loss a few days later.

A person can use these appointments to discuss pregnancy with a health care professional who can provide resources and counseling.

Learn more by visiting our pregnancy and parenthood hub here.

Although unusually high or low HCG levels can indicate a problem with the pregnancy, this is not always the case.

People who have concerns about the development of the embryo or the pregnancy should ask a healthcare professional about additional testing options.

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.

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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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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

Non -pregnant

Hemothest, Helix, MME/ml

less than 5

Invitro, Med/ml

less than 5

Pregnancy from the conception - 2 weeks

Hemothest, Helix, MME/ml

9. 5–750

Invitro, MLUST/ML

25-300

3 weeks

Hemothest, Helix, Helix , MME/ml

217-7138

Invitro, Med/ml

1500-5000

4 weeks

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, Medly /ml

—

8 weeks

Hemotest, Helix, mIU/ml

46509–186 977

Invitro, medical/ml

9 weeks

Hemothest, Helix, MME/ml

27 832–210 612

Invitro, MLUSE/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

18 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 —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, ML

MLUSE/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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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 substance. 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.

hCG, human chorionic gonadotropin, indications for prescription, rules for preparing for the test, interpretation of the results and norm indicators.

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Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG, β-hCG, beta-hCG, Human Chorionic Gonadotropin): indications for prescribing, rules for preparing for the test, interpretation of the results and normal indicators.

Chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone produced by the outer shell of the embryo, and is normally determined in the blood and urine of a woman only when pregnancy occurs.

Chorionic gonadotropin consists of two subunits - alpha and beta. The beta subunit (β-hCG) used for the immunometric determination of the hormone is unique. To monitor the course of pregnancy, the determination of the beta subunit of hCG is used. The level of beta-hCG in the blood as early as 6-8 days after conception makes it possible to diagnose pregnancy (the concentration of β-hCG in the urine reaches the diagnostic level 1-2 days later than in the blood serum).

HCG has a multifaceted effect on the body of a pregnant woman: it affects the development of the embryo and fetus, stimulates the synthesis of estrogens and androgens by ovarian cells, promotes the functional activity of the chorion and placenta, and ensures the successful course of pregnancy.

The introduction of hCG into the body of non-pregnant women stimulates ovulation and the synthesis of sex hormones necessary for conception. In men, this hormone enhances the formation of seminal fluid, activates the production of gonadosteroids.

In early pregnancy and up to the 2nd trimester, β-hCG supports the production of hormones necessary to maintain pregnancy, and in male fetuses it stimulates cells responsible for the formation and development of the male reproductive system.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG, beta-hCG, b-hCG, Human Chorionic)

Synonyms: Beta-hCG general. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin; hCG; Pregnancy Quantitative hCG; Beta hCG; Total beta hCG. Brief description of the analyte Human chorionic gonadotropin ...

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Indications for determining the level of hCG in women

Absence of menstruation (amenorrhea).
Exclusion/confirmation of pregnancy, including ectopic (ectopic).
Diagnosis of the state of the fetus at different stages of pregnancy.
Assessment of the state of the placenta at different stages of pregnancy.
Dynamic monitoring of fetal development during pregnancy, including in the diagnosis of malformations.
Suspicion of the presence of neoplastic diseases of the reproductive system, such as hydatidiform mole (a rare pathology of the fetal egg, in which instead of developing the embryo, chorionic villi grow), chorionepithelioma (a malignant tumor that develops from the epithelium of the villi of the fetal egg).
Performing artificial termination of pregnancy.

Indications for determining the level of hCG in men:

The presence of suspicion of tumors of the testicles.

Deadline for this test is 1 working day, excluding the day of taking the biomaterial.

Rules for preparing for a blood test to determine the level of hCG

non-specific: it is enough to refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol on the eve of the procedure, limit stress and intense physical activity for a week; blood donation is carried out on an empty stomach.

The determination of hCG in the blood is possible already on the 6-8th day after conception. The use of urinary test systems (rapid pregnancy tests) will be informative starting from the 7th day after the fertilization of the egg. To confirm the result, it is recommended to re-determine the level of the hormone a few days after the first analysis.

You can take a blood test for hCG (thyroid stimulating hormone, thyrotropin, Thyroid StimulatingHormone, TSH) at the nearest INVITRO medical office. The list of offices where biomaterial is accepted for laboratory testing is presented in the "Addresses" section.

Reasons leading to high levels of β-hCG

Multiple pregnancy.

Incorrect timing of pregnancy.

Pathological pregnancy: the appearance of edema, increased blood pressure, loss of protein in the urine (preeclampsia), convulsions (eclampsia), toxicosis.
The presence of a pregnant woman with chronic diseases (for example, diabetes mellitus).
Multiple fetal malformations (in such a situation, the determination of the level of β-hCG is used together with other indicators, the so-called "triple test". This study is used as a screening, and not for diagnosis.).

Reasons for fixing a decrease in the level of β-hCG

Incorrectly established terms of pregnancy.
Ectopic pregnancy.
Frozen pregnancy.
Threat of miscarriage.
Fetal or placental disorders (including placental insufficiency).
Intrauterine fetal death (in this case, it is informative to determine the level of the hormone in the first and second trimesters).

During abortions, the level of β-hCG is also monitored, the dynamics of growth / fall of which can be used to judge the completeness of the manipulation.

Determining the level of hCG, in addition to establishing the fact of pregnancy in the early stages, is part of the screening examination of pregnant women in the first trimester, along with ultrasound.

1st trimester prenatal trisomy screening, PRISCA-1 (1st trimester biochemical screening - 1st trimester “double test”, risk calculation using PRISCA software)

Synonyms: Prenatal Screening Markers for Down Syndrome; PRISCA-1. Brief description of the study "Prenatal screening for trisomies of the 1st trimester of pregnancy, PRISCA-1)" Test run...

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Available with home visit

2 040 RUB

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Screening ultrasound of the 1st trimester of pregnancy (11-13 weeks 6 days)

Examination necessary to monitor the growth and development of the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy.

RUB 2,790 Sign up

In gynecological practice, human chorionic gonadotropin is used to treat infertility, stimulate ovulation, and synthesize sex steroids. In urology, it is used in the treatment of cryptorchidism (undescended testicles) and infertility associated with impaired spermatogenesis.

Quantitatively, β-hCG is determined in the blood, for a qualitative determination, special test systems (pregnancy tests) are used, and in this case, urine serves as a biomaterial.

Quantitative determination of the level of hCG allows you to monitor the course of pregnancy in dynamics. To do this, obstetrician-gynecologists have developed tables for increasing the level of hCG, depending on the duration of pregnancy in weeks. The sensitivity of the determination is in the range of 1.2-1125000 mU/ml. 9

Pregnancy (weeks from conception)	HCG level (mU / ml)
2	25–300
3	1500–5000
4	10000–30000
5	20000–100000
6–11	20000–>225000
12	19000–135000
13	18000–110000
14	14000–80000
15	12000–68000
16	10000–58000
17–18	8000–57000
19	7000–49000
20–28	1600–49000
Men and non-pregnant women	0–<5 mU/ml

Values ranging from 5 to 25 mU / ml do not allow unambiguous confirmation or denial of pregnancy, therefore, a second study is required after two days.

Since the hormone is produced by the placenta, during normal pregnancy, with placental pathology (for example, with fetoplacental insufficiency - a violation of the development of the fetus and placenta), with multiple pregnancies, the values of β-hCG will differ. With a normal pregnancy until the fifth week, the level of the hormone rises exponentially: every two days its concentration doubles, reaching a peak by the 11th week of gestation. Accordingly, in a multiple pregnancy, the level of β-hCG will be even higher than in a single pregnancy.

If the indicator deviates from the norm, additional ultrasound of the pelvic organs (uterus, appendages) is required.

Ultrasound of the pelvic organs (uterus, adnexa) (US examination of pelvic organs (uterus, adnexa))

Ultrasound scanning of the organs of the female reproductive system to assess the shape and size, as well as exclude pathology.

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However, with a normal hCG value, additional examinations may also be needed:

Ultrasound diagnosis of pregnancy (required to confirm pregnancy, clarify the term).

Ultrasound diagnosis of pregnancy

Examination to confirm pregnancy and determine the place of attachment of the ovum (to exclude ectopic pregnancy).

RUB 2,290 Sign up

Screening ultrasound of the 1st trimester of pregnancy (11-13 weeks 6 days) - to assess the characteristics and confirm the normal development of the fetus.

Screening ultrasound of the 1st trimester of pregnancy (11-13 weeks 6 days)

Examination necessary to monitor the growth and development of the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy.

RUB 2,790 Sign up

Screening ultrasound of the 1st trimester of multiple pregnancy (11-13 weeks 6 days) - to confirm the presence of several fetuses, determine their characteristics; It is necessary for planning the subsequent actions of the doctor and the management of pregnancy.

Screening ultrasound of the 1st trimester of multiple pregnancy (11-13 weeks 6 days)

Examination to assess the growth and development of fetuses, their position in the uterus, and make a plan for further pregnancy management.

RUB 3,840 Sign up

Fetal ultrasound according to indications (before the 20th week) - performed in case of suspected ectopic pregnancy.

Fetal ultrasound according to indications (before the 20th week)

Additional ultrasound, which is prescribed in the presence of concomitant pathologies to monitor the condition of the fetus.

RUB 2,540 Sign up

Lab tests to be performed in the first trimester are collected in the Pregnancy: 1st trimester (1-13 weeks) profile.

For professional assistance in interpreting the results, contact

obstetrician-gynecologist

Sources:

www.invitro.ru
Clinical guidelines "Ectopic (ectopic) pregnancy". Developed by: Russian Society of Obstetricians-Gynecologists, Association of Obstetric Anesthesiologists-Resuscitators. – 2021.
Clinical guidelines "Premature birth". Developed by: Russian Society of Obstetricians-Gynecologists, Association of Obstetric Anesthesiologists-Resuscitators. – 2020.

IMPORTANT!

The information in this section should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. In case of pain or other exacerbation of the disease, only the attending physician should prescribe diagnostic tests. For diagnosis and proper treatment, you should contact your doctor.
For a correct assessment of the results of your analyzes in dynamics, it is preferable to do studies in the same laboratory, since different laboratories can use different research methods and units of measurement to perform the same analyzes.

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