How to get pregnancy blood test

Pregnancy testing - Better Health Channel

Summary

Read the full fact sheet

Home pregnancy tests are usually very accurate, but this depends on how well you followed the instructions and how soon after the pregnancy begins that you do the test.
The sensitivity of the test can also affect accuracy. Some tests (not all) can detect the pregnancy before you miss a period.
To get the most accurate result, do the test first thing in the morning and wait until the first day of your missed period.
Always see your doctor for confirmation of your pregnancy.

How do pregnancy tests work?

A pregnancy test checks your blood or urine for a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This is a hormone made by the placenta (the placenta provides your growing baby with oxygen and nutrients from your bloodstream throughout the pregnancy). The amount of hCG in your blood and urine rise steeply during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and then fall to low levels for the rest of the pregnancy.

Home pregnancy test kits

Home pregnancy test kits are available from pharmacists. These kits offer accurate readings (up to 99 per cent) if performed strictly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. However, many women who use home pregnancy test kits get inaccurate results.

The most common mistake is to test for pregnancy too soon after the missed period. The manufacturer’s instructions will tell you when is the best time to use the kit. It is very important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions exactly.

How to use a home pregnancy test kit

Home pregnancy test kits vary in their sensitivity to hCG. Most test kits are best used about one to two weeks after your period was due. Always strictly follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Generally speaking, most home pregnancy tests follow the same basic principles:

You collect urine in a small container and dip the test strip into the urine. Alternatively, some kits offer a test strip that you hold under your stream of urine.
To improve accuracy of results, it is best to test your urine when you first get out of bed. Early morning urine is concentrated and contains higher levels of hCG than at other times of the day.
Most test strips indicate the presence of hCG by the appearance of a coloured line or dot.
Results are rapid. Most test kits take only a few minutes to complete.
Most kits come with a second test strip. This allows you to test again at a later stage.

Positive result

If the test is positive (no matter how faint the line, colour or sign is), you should see your GP (doctor) (or family planning clinic) to confirm the result with a blood test or another urine test. Be aware that false-positive and false-negative results can happen.

False positive: Although rare, this can happen if you have blood or protein in your urine. Certain drugs can also cause this (tranquilisers, anticonvulsants, hypnotics and fertility drugs). Other reasons for false results are:

dirty urine collecting cup (detergent residue, for example, is known to cause false-positive results)
faulty test kit (for example, the kit is damaged, past its use-by date or has been exposed to heat or moisture)
recent birth or miscarriage, because a woman’s blood and urine may still contain detectible levels of hCG for a few weeks afterwards
an ovarian tumour or some other type of hCG-producing growth.

Negative result

If you get a negative result, you are probably not pregnant BUT false-negatives can happen if:

you didn’t follow the instructions correctly
the test is out-of-date
you tested too soon after the pregnancy began
your urine was too diluted
you are taking certain medicines, including antihistamines.

If you suspect you may be pregnant, see your doctor and ask for a blood pregnancy test to confirm the result.

Always see your doctor for confirmation

If a home pregnancy test gives a negative result, yet you feel that you are pregnant:

Trust your instincts.
Treat yourself as if you are pregnant until proven otherwise.
Avoid cigarettes and alcohol.
Make an appointment with your doctor. Pregnancy tests performed in laboratories are 99 per cent accurate.

Blood pregnancy tests used by doctors

Your doctor can give you a blood pregnancy test as early as 11–14 days after ovulation. To perform a blood pregnancy test, the doctor draws blood from a vein in your arm. This blood is sent to a laboratory for testing. The results of most blood pregnancy tests take at least a couple of days. The laboratory then advises the doctor of the result.

Blood test results are about 99 per cent accurate and can detect lower amounts of hCG than urine pregnancy tests. The 2 main types of blood pregnancy test include:

Quantitative blood test – measures the exact amount of hCG in the blood and can give you an estimate of how far along the pregnancy has progressed.
Qualitative blood test – only checks for the presence of hCG. Since this test doesn’t measure the exact levels of hCG, it can’t offer an estimate of gestation.

Urine pregnancy tests used by doctors

The doctor can give you a urine pregnancy test. You are asked to urinate into a plastic cup or something similar. The doctor then tests the urine using a kit that may look similar to a home pregnancy test kit.

Inaccurate results from tests given by the doctor

Pregnancy tests taken by your doctor are rarely inaccurate. The occasional error is usually due to mistakes made in the laboratory. However, you can be reassured that the pregnancy test taken by your doctor is much more likely to be accurate than a home test you perform yourself.

Other reasons for a missed period

Pregnancy is not the only reason for a missed period. Other possible reasons include:

breastfeeding
emotional stress
severe weight loss
severe dieting and exercising
obesity
particular drugs
menopause onset.

Where to get help

Your GP (doctor)
Obstetrician and gynaecologist
Pharmacist
Sexual Health Victoria (SHV). To book an appointment call SHV Melbourne CBD Clinic: (03) 9660 4700 or call SHV Box Hill Clinic: (03) 9257 0100 or (free call): 1800 013 952. These services are youth friendly.

Home use tests – pregnancy, Office of In Vitro Diagnostic Device and Evaluation, US Food and Drug Administration.
Home pregnancy tests vs clinic pregnancy tests, Epigee Women’s Health.

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:

When to Take One, Accuracy, and Results

Written by Annie Stuart

What is a pregnancy test, and how does it work?

Pregnancy tests check your pee or blood for a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Your body makes this hormone after a fertilized egg attaches to the wall of your uterus.

This usually happens about 6 days after fertilization. Levels of hCG rise quickly, doubling every 2 to 3 days.

What types of pregnancy tests are available?

Two main types of pregnancy tests are blood tests and urine tests.

Blood tests

You get these at your doctor's office, but they’re not used as often as urine tests. These tests can detect pregnancy earlier than a home pregnancy test, about 6 to 8 days after ovulation. It takes longer to get the results than with a home pregnancy test.

The two types of blood pregnancy tests are:

A qualitative hCG test simply checks for hCG. It gives a "yes" or "no" answer to the question, "Are you pregnant?" Doctors often order these tests to confirm pregnancy as early as 10 days after conception. Some can detect hCG much earlier.

A quantitative hCG test (beta hCG) measures the exact amount of hCG in your blood. It can find even very low levels of hCG. These tests may help track problems during pregnancy. Your doctor may use them along with other tests to rule out an ectopic pregnancy, when the fertilized egg implants outside your uterus, or after a miscarriage, when hCG levels fall quickly.

Urine tests

You can take these at home or in a doctor's office.

Along with being private and convenient, home pregnancy tests are quick and easy to use. They’re also very accurate if you follow the directions. These pregnancy tests all work in a similar way. You test your pee in one of these ways:

Hold the test stick in your urine stream
Collect pee in a cup and dip the test stick into it
Collect pee in a cup and use a dropper to put it into another container

You’ll need to wait a few minutes before seeing the results.

After you take this test, you can confirm your results by seeing your doctor, who can do even more sensitive pregnancy tests.

How accurate are pregnancy tests?

Urine home pregnancy tests are about 99% accurate. Blood tests are even more accurate.

A home test’s accuracy depends on:

How closely you follow the instructions
When you ovulate and how soon the egg implants
How soon after pregnancy you take the test
The sensitivity of the pregnancy test

When to Take a Pregnancy Test

Some pregnancy tests can spot hCG before you miss a period. But the results will be more accurate if you wait until the first day of a missed period.

Results may also be more accurate if you do the test first thing in the morning, when your urine is more concentrated.

Where can I get a home pregnancy test?

You can buy a home pregnancy test in a drugstore without a prescription. The cost depends on the brand. But most tests aren’t very expensive.

What do the pregnancy test results mean?

Results may show up as a line, a color, or a symbol such as a "+" or "-" sign. Digital tests show the words "pregnant" or "not pregnant." It's important to know what a positive or negative result means.

If you get a positive result, you’re pregnant. This is true no matter how faint the line, color, or sign is. If you get a positive result, you may want to call your doctor to talk about what comes next.

In very rare cases, you can have a false-positive result. This means you're not pregnant but the test says you are. You could have a false-positive result if you have blood or protein in your pee. Certain drugs, such as tranquilizers, anticonvulsants, hypnotics, and fertility drugs, could cause false-positive results.

If you get a negative result, you’re probably not pregnant. But you may be pregnant if:

The test is past its expiration date.
You took the test the wrong way.
You tested too soon.
Your pee is too diluted because you drank a lot of fluids right before the test.
You’re taking certain medications, such as diuretics or antihistamines.

If you get a negative result, try retesting within about a week to double-check. Some home pregnancy tests suggest doing this no matter what your first results are.

If you take the test twice and get different results, call your doctor. A blood test is a good idea to confirm results.

If you have any other questions about the pregnancy test or the results, call your doctor or the telephone number listed with the test.

Health & Pregnancy Guide

Getting Pregnant
First Trimester
Second Trimester
Third Trimester
Labor and Delivery
Pregnancy Complications
All Guide Topics

Blood test for pregnancy in the early stages - why you need and how to donate blood

Blood test for pregnancy 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 such conditions as:

Establishment of the actual fact of conception
Assessment of hormonal background for failures
Tracking abnormal pregnancy types:

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 body dysfunctions 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).

Monitoring the level of hCG allows you to monitor 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:

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 an unstable hormonal background as a result of an abortion

In rare cases, in the presence of serious hormonal disorders, men may 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
He then 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. The results of the analysis can be transferred directly to the attending physician, or issued to the patient. A woman can independently compare these indicators with the values in the tables, but it is recommended to entrust this process to professionals.

Advantages of the procedure at MEDSI

Highly qualified doctors work in the clinics, who not only develop comprehensive examination and treatment programs, but also help to properly prepare for childbirth in case of pregnancy
Special consultation mechanisms have been established for prospective parents
Clinics have their own laboratory for receiving and checking tests, which allows you to get an accurate result in the shortest possible time
For examinations and therapy, modern devices from leading manufacturers from countries such as Japan, USA, Germany, etc. are used.
Originator drugs (not generics) are used

To make an appointment, call 8 (495) 7-800-500 or contact one of the many registries located in Moscow, the region and regions of the Russian Federation.

Do not delay treatment, see a doctor now:

Pregnancy test
Gynecological appointment
Planning and management of pregnancy
Reproductive health

what shows the norm during pregnancy, how and when to take, transcript

June 2, 2020

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Contents

What is HCG?

The role of the hormone in the diagnosis of pregnancy

When should I donate blood for hCG?

How to prepare for the analysis?

HCG test interpretation

How accurate is the hCG test?

An hCG blood test is one of the most important tools for monitoring a developing pregnancy.

What is HCG?

An hCG blood test is a reliable way to determine pregnancy in the early stages. HCG is a protein consisting of two units. Alpha particles of the hormone are similar to biologically active substances secreted by the pituitary gland. Beta particles are unique. The mass of the CG molecule is approximately 46 kDa. During pregnancy, glycoprotein is synthesized in the placenta. The biological properties of CG are in many ways similar to the properties of other hormones: luteinizing and follicle-stimulating. In some malignant diseases, hCG begins to produce tumor cells. In a non-pregnant woman and a healthy man, the hormone is practically absent in blood tests.

In obstetrics and gynecology, the test for b hCG, along with ultrasound, is used to monitor pregnancy throughout the entire period. Deviations in the readings of the analysis are the basis for further examination and require the consultation of a geneticist. An artificial increase in the level of hCG is used in the IVF process. As a result of injections of hCG in women, the maturation and release of the egg is stimulated, the production of estrogen and progesterone increases. In men, the introduction of exogenous hCG activates the growth of the number of spermatozoa.

It is proved that the substance also has the properties of corticotropic hormone. HCG has an effect on the adrenal glands, stimulating the synthesis of steroids in their cortex. Thus, he is involved in preparing the body of a pregnant woman for the upcoming physiological stress. Since the fetus is perceived as foreign by the mother's body, some immunosuppressive influence of hormones, including hCG, is required for its normal development.

HCG promotes the maturation of placental tissues. Thanks to him and other hormones, its functional activity increases and the number of chorionic villi increases.

Without the hormone, the normal development of the embryo is not possible. HCG ensures the production of estrogens and progesterone, and also maintains their balance in the body of the expectant mother. Therefore, any pregnancy support program always contains regular tests for hCG levels.

Urinalysis for hCG (beta particles)

Compared to blood, expectant mother's urine contains less of the hormone. Therefore, determining the concentration of a substance in the urine can diagnose pregnancy only from a period of 8-10 days. Like a laboratory study, pharmacy tests are also based on the determination of hCG in the urine. Home tests have a lower threshold of sensitivity than laboratory tests, and, accordingly, a lower degree of reliability. Their positive result requires a visit to an obstetrician-gynecologist to confirm a normal pregnancy.

Free hCG assay (beta-hCG subunit)

The range of application of this test is quite wide. In oncology, it is in demand as a marker of malignant tumors. Measurement of the number of independent particles of hCG in the blood is informative in relation to testicular cancer in men. In addition, this indicator is important in the diagnosis of trophoblastic tumors in women. It is included in 1 and 2 pregnancy screenings. The study helps to assess the risk of such congenital fetal pathologies as Down syndrome and Edwards syndrome.

The role of the hormone in the diagnosis of pregnancy

An analysis of the amount of total hCG occupies a special place in confirming pregnancy in the early stages. This is due to the fact that the hormone begins to be actively released already a few days after the attachment of the fetal egg to the wall of the uterus. With the normal development of the embryo, the level of the substance doubles every 1.5-2 days. By the tenth week, the amount of hCG in a woman's tests can reach maximum values - up to 225,000 mU / ml.

Simultaneously with the blood for total hCG, other examinations are prescribed for the pregnant woman. So the patient should visit the ultrasound scanning room at least three times. Within nine months, several studies may be required. Comprehensive screenings of the 1st and 2nd trimesters also include an hCG test.

When to donate blood for hCG

A blood test for the hormone is given as needed. The hCG test is prescribed for the first time directly during the diagnosis of pregnancy itself. The second is as part of screening with ultrasound and other tests. Screening is designed to identify a risk group for congenital fetal pathologies among pregnant women.

Approximate dates of studies on hCG:

confirmation of pregnancy - from the 6th day after conception;
first - from 11 to 13 weeks;
second from 19 to 23 weeks;
3rd trimester screening is done after 28 weeks of gestation.

How to prepare for a blood test

Preparing for an hCG test involves a number of standard requirements for hormone testing. The analysis is given on an empty stomach, after an overnight fast in the morning or afternoon. You should come to the treatment room in good health. In order for the results of the hCG test to be as reliable as possible, it is recommended in 2-3 days:

stop drinking alcohol;
exclude spicy and fatty foods from the diet;
cancel strength training;
Avoid smoking a couple of hours before donating blood.
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