Beta- HCG Test:
Why Beta(β)HCG test?
CLINICAL INFORMATION :
Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is a pregnancy hormone (embryonic hormone), synthesized during pregnancy by the developing placenta that nourishes the fertilized egg attached to the uterine wall. HCG interacts with the LHCG receptor of the ovary and promotes the maintenance of the corpus luteum for the maternal recognition of pregnancy. HCG promotes progesterone production by corpus luteal cells, promotes angiogenesis in uterine vasculature, etc. HCG can be detected in a blood specimens of pregnant women within a span of 11 days of conception (suspected if there is a missed menstrual period). The levels of HCG continue to double every 48 to 72 hours, and their levels peak around 8 to 11 weeks after conception. Beta(β)HCG testis performed in blood and/or a urine specimen to measure quantitative amounts of HCG in the blood to confirm a pregnancy. It can also help in certain conditions such as ectopic pregnancies, along with the progesterone test. HCG test is usually performed to confirm pregnancy, determine the approximate age of the fetus, diagnosis of gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) abnormal pregnancies such as ectopic pregnancy, hydatidiform mole or also called a molar pregnancy (anembryonic pregnancy - abnormal mass forms inside uterus instead of a normal embryo), teratomas etc, multiple pregnancies such as twins or triplets, potential miscarriage and prenatal screening for Down’s syndrome, etc, cancers (since HCG levels are higher in some kind of tumors) such as lung cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, cancer of the uterus, choriocarcinoma and non-cancerous conditions such as cirrhosis(liver), ulcers of the stomach and inflammatory bowel disease, In male population higher levels of HCG are present in marijuana smokers, high levels of HCG is indicated in testicular cancers (germ cell tumors), etc. Certain conditions like fertility drugs such as profasi, pregnyl and/or pergonaletc and/or antibodies if present against HCG molecule, and/or women with severe hormonal change due to any disease/disorder can also give false-positive results (i.e women is non-pregnant yet can get positive for a pregnancy test) for HCG test. HCG levels are useful in monitoring during the prognosis of gestational trophoblastic diseases and/or HCG secreting tumors. Other associated tests are ultrasound around six weeks etc.
General instructions:
Sample Requirement: Specimen - Blood sample collected from the vein. Test Preparation: None.
NOTE - Sample for specimen collections may vary based on the patient’s condition/cases according to the patient’s presenting complaints/signs or symptoms:
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENT (Special or Rare Cases) - As instructed and guided by Physician / Clinician / Pathologist / as per Laboratory’s requirements, according to procedures and protocols.
This Multi-Specialty Clinical Referral Laboratory RTDIAGNOSTICS provides precise and accurate tests with an extensive range of testing services to the medical centers to help in the diagnosis and identification of pathology in the test specimens for infectious diseases and also to evaluate the function of organ systems of the patient. It prevents further complications and helps to stabilize and restore health to near normalcy at the earliest without delay.
