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hCG, Serum, Qualitative
MessagePerforming Lab: Hudson, Lakeview, Regions, Sartell, Westfields
Test Code
3335
Alias/See Also
Sunquest: HCGSE; Qualitative Serum hCG
CPT Codes
84703
Preferred Specimen
0.2 mL Serum Separator (gold-top) tube
Minimum Volume
0.1 mL
Other Acceptable Specimens
Red, Red/Gray
Instructions
Ordering:
All sites except Central Lab
All sites except Central Lab
Transport Temperature
Refrigerated
Specimen Stability
Lakeview, Hudson and Regions: Room Temperature: 8 hours, Refrigerated 48 hours
Methodology
Enzyme Immunoassay
Setup Schedule
Daily
Report Available
Same day.
Limitations
Since HCG levels at 25 mIU/mL have been observed as early as 6 days post conception, HCG MAY be detected before a missed menses.
There are occasional discrepancies between the qualitative and quantitative serum results; therefore, if the qualitative result does not agree with the patient’s clinical picture, a quantitative HCG should be performed.
If a negative result is obtained, but pregnancy is suspected, another sample should be collected after 48-72 hours and retested.
While pregnancy is the most likely reason for the presence of HCG in serum and urine, elevated HCG concentrations unrelated to pregnancy have been reported in some patients. Conditions other than normal pregnancy may be associated with detectable HCG, including for example, ectopic pregnancy or molar pregnancy. Patients with trophoblastic and nontrophoblastic disease may have elevated HCG levels; therefore, the possibility of HCG secreting neoplasms should be eliminated prior to the diagnosis of pregnancy.
HCG may remain detectable for a few days to several weeks after delivery, abortion, natural termination or HCG injections.
Serum HCG is rapidly cleared into the urine and the concentration of HCG in serum is approximately equal to the concentration in urine.
Serum and urine specimens from healthy men and healthy non-pregnant women should not contain detectable levels of HCG.
In normal pregnancy, hCG levels in urine can reach 25 mIU/mL as early as 6 days post conception, and continue to increase exponentially to reach a maximum concentration in excess of 200,000 mIU/mL at the end of the first trimester.
There are occasional discrepancies between the qualitative and quantitative serum results; therefore, if the qualitative result does not agree with the patient’s clinical picture, a quantitative HCG should be performed.
If a negative result is obtained, but pregnancy is suspected, another sample should be collected after 48-72 hours and retested.
While pregnancy is the most likely reason for the presence of HCG in serum and urine, elevated HCG concentrations unrelated to pregnancy have been reported in some patients. Conditions other than normal pregnancy may be associated with detectable HCG, including for example, ectopic pregnancy or molar pregnancy. Patients with trophoblastic and nontrophoblastic disease may have elevated HCG levels; therefore, the possibility of HCG secreting neoplasms should be eliminated prior to the diagnosis of pregnancy.
HCG may remain detectable for a few days to several weeks after delivery, abortion, natural termination or HCG injections.
Serum HCG is rapidly cleared into the urine and the concentration of HCG in serum is approximately equal to the concentration in urine.
Serum and urine specimens from healthy men and healthy non-pregnant women should not contain detectable levels of HCG.
In normal pregnancy, hCG levels in urine can reach 25 mIU/mL as early as 6 days post conception, and continue to increase exponentially to reach a maximum concentration in excess of 200,000 mIU/mL at the end of the first trimester.
Reference Range
Negative is less than 10 IU/L hCG for healthy nonpregnant individual.
Clinical Significance
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) is a hormone secreted by the placenta during pregnancy. Conditions other than normal pregnancy that may be associated with detectable HCG include ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, trophoblastic disease and non-trophoblastic neoplasms. In ectopic pregnancy, HCG concentrations may remain below 50 mIU/mL. HCG may remain detectable for a few days to several weeks after delivery or abortion.
