An HCG test is a blood or urine test that measures the level of the Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) hormone in your blood. It is a simple and quick way to confirm a pregnancy and conditions related to it.
It is important to know about this test and how it works so that you can make informed decisions about your health.
What is HCG?
It is a hormone mainly produced by the placenta during pregnancy. Often referred to as a pregnancy hormone, HCG, together with estrogen and progesterone, helps thicken a woman's uterine lining to support a growing embryo and causes the body to stop menstruating. The correct balance of these three hormones is necessary for a successful pregnancy.
Purpose of the HCG Test
The main purpose of an HCG test is to confirm a pregnancy. There are 2 types of HCG tests, each having its purpose.
Qualititive Test:
It is a test that determines the levels of HCG hormone in a person's blood or urine. The elevated levels of HCG give a positive test result, which confirm the pregnancy.
A negative test result means the person is not pregnant. However, in case pregnancy is expected, the test should be repeated after a few days.
Quantitive Test:
Also known as the Beta HCG test, it determines the amount of HCG present in the blood or urine. It helps the doctor determine the age of the fetus. If the amount is too high, it may indicate another fetus in the body.
Documented in milli-international units per milliliter, an HCG level greater than 5.0 mIU/ml is considered as a positive pregnancy.
Preparing For the Test
Your doctor will confirm if the blood or urine sample is needed and instruct you accordingly.
For a blood sample, a needle is inserted into a vein in your arm and a small amount of blood is taken in a tube as a sample. For a urine test, a urine sample is collected in a sterilised container, and a few drops from it are put onto a chemical strip provided by the lab for further evaluation.
For either of the test, no fasting is required. However, it is best to inform your doctor about any medications or allergies or underlying medical conditions before you undergo a Beta HCG test.
To Sum
While an HCG test helps confirm a pregnancy, a blood or urine Beta-HCG test can help diagnose abnormal conditions like pregnancy with twins, triplets, or any cancerous growth on the ovaries or testicles. Even molar pregnancy, when an egg and sperm join incorrectly at fertilizations and a noncancerous tumor forms instead of a healthy placenta, which can raise your HCG levels. Therefore, it is best to consult your doctor with the results for a proper diagnosis.
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