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Beta-hCG, Quantitative (Tumor Marker)
Test Code900726
CPT Codes
84702<br>Limited Access Code
Preferred Specimen
1 mL serum collected in a serum separator tube (SST®)
Minimum Volume
0.4 mL
Other Acceptable Specimens
Plasma collected in: K2 EDTA (lavender-top), or K2 EDTA (pink-top), or lithium heparin (green-top) tube
Instructions
Allow specimen to clot completely at room temperature. Separate serum from cells ASAP or within 2 hours of collection. Transfer 1 mL serum or plasma to an ARUP Standard Transport Tube.
Transport Temperature
Refrigerated (cold packs)
Specimen Stability
After separation from cells
Room temperature: 5 days
Refrigerated: 14 days
Frozen: 1 year
Room temperature: 5 days
Refrigerated: 14 days
Frozen: 1 year
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Specimens left to clot at 2-8°C • Specimens subjected to repeated freeze/thaw cycles
Methodology
Electrochemiluminescent Immunoassay
Setup Schedule
Set up: Daily; Report available: 2 days
Reference Range
See Laboratory Report
Clinical Significance
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a valuable aid in the management of patients with trophoblastic tumors, nonseminomatous testicular tumors, and seminomas, when used in conjunction with information available from the clinical evaluation and other diagnostic procedures. Increased serum hCG concentrations have also been observed in melanoma, carcinomas of the breast, gastrointestinal tract, lung, and ovaries, and in benign conditions, including cirrhosis, duodenal ulcer, and inflammatory bowel disease. This result cannot be interpreted as absolute evidence of the presence or absence of malignant disease. This result is not interpretable as a tumor marker in pregnant females. The combination of the specific monoclonal antibodies used in the Roche Beta hCG electrochemiluminescent immunoassay recognize the holo-hormone, nicked forms of hCG, the beta-core fragment, and the free beta-subunit. Although this assay is FDA cleared for use in the detection of pregnancy, it is not labeled for use as a tumor marker.
