| Subject | Contents |
| Definition | A test of blood or urine to determine if a woman is pregnant . See the following tests:HCG - qualitative - urineHCG - qualitative - serumHCG - quantitative |
| Alternative Names | |
| How the test is performed | The qualitative urine human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) test is usually performed by placing a drop of urine on a prepared chemical strip. It usually takes one or two minutes for the strip to indicate the result. The qualitative and quantitative serum tests are performed by drawing a single tube of blood and sending it to a laboratory. You may wait anywhere from a few hours to more than a day to get the results. Quantitative tests are used to measure the level of HCG in your blood, and give your doctor more information than the qualitative test. |
| How to prepare for the test | |
| How the test will feel | The urine test merely involves normal urination into a cup. The serum tests involve drawing blood through a needle and into a tube. Any discomfort you might feel will only last a few seconds. |
| Why the test is performed | Qualitative tests Women who are late for their "period" often perform qualitative urine tests at home. "Qualitative" means that the test will only indicate whether you are pregnant or not -- yes or no. Doing the test at home permits greater privacy. Home pregnancy tests are available at pharmacies and do not require prescriptions. Sometimes, the test will be performed at your doctor's office before the first prenatal visit. This is done just to confirm that you are actually pregnant. Doctors also perform a qualitative urine pregnancy test to rule out pregnancy before starting a medication or therapy that might adversely affect an existing pregnancy. Qualitative serum pregnancy testing is performed when greater accuracy is sought, but only a "yes" or "no" answer is required. While the qualitative urine test can detect HCG levels above 25-50 milli-international units per milliliter (mIU/mL), the serum tests can detect HCG levels above 5-10 mIU/mL. Quantitative tests "Quantitative" serum pregnancy testing is usually performed at a hospital or doctor's office. This test actually measures the amount of HCG in your blood. It can measure amounts ranging from 5 mIU/mL to 2,000,000 mIU/mL or more. Quantitative testing is performed when it is not sufficient merely to know whether you are pregnant or not. Sometimes, your doctor will need to correlate your HCG levels with the progress of your pregnancy. Ask your doctor to explain the results of your quantitative pregnancy test. |
| Normal Values | In non-pregnant women, both the qualitative urine and serum HCG tests will be negative. The quantitative HCG test will be less than 5 milliunits per milliliter. In a normal intrauterine pregnancy, the HCG should rise through the entire first trimester, and slowly fall thereafter. |
| What abnormal results mean | HCG levels that do not rise appropriately can indicate a problem with your pregnancy. Some problems this could suggest include miscarriages and ectopic (tubal) pregnancies. Extremely high levels can suggest twins. Your doctor will understand the significance of your HCG levels, and should explain them to you. |
| What the risks are | There are no medical risks associated with testing for pregnancy. |
| Special considerations | Qualitative urine pregnancy tests will only be positive when you have sufficient HCG in your blood. If you are very early in your pregnancy, and the HCG level is below 25-50 mIU/mL, the test will be negative. Therefore, if you are late for your period, you should wait 7-10 days before trying the test. If the test is negative, wait a few more days. If you still don't menstruate, try the test again. If you still need more information, make an appointment with you doctor. |
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