| A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z # |
hCG, Alternate Method
Test Code90378
CPT Codes
84702
Preferred Specimen
1 mL serum
Minimum Volume
0.3 mL
Instructions
Note: Administration of STRENSIQ may interfere in certain assays and may falsely elevate values. For patients receiving STRENSIQ, consideration should be given to using alternate methods.
Transport Temperature
Room temperature
Specimen Stability
Room temperature: 14 days
Refrigerated: 14 days
Frozen: 45 days
Refrigerated: 14 days
Frozen: 45 days
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Gross hemolysis
Methodology
Immunoassay (IA)
FDA Status
This test was developed and its analytical performance characteristics have been determined by Quest Diagnostics. It has not been cleared or approved by FDA. This assay has been validated pursuant to the CLIA regulations and is used for clinical purposes.
Setup Schedule
Set up: Daily; Report available: 3-5 days
Reference Range
| Male: | <5 mIU/mL |
| Female: | |
| Nonpregnant or premenopausal | <5 mIU/mL |
| Postmenopausal | <10 mIU/mL |
Clinical Significance
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) is used not only for diagnosis of pregnancy, but also for detection and monitoring of abnormalities and tumors classified as gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD), which can be notoriously difficult to diagnose by other means. Persistent elevation of hCG often raises the question of cryptic GTD versus a false elevation of hCG due to heterophilic antibodies. Previous publications (see cole la, et al, clin Chem 2001; 47: 308-315) have established the Beckman Coulter platform as the least likely to show false elevations of hCG.
Therefore, the "hCG, alternate method" test code can be ordered by clients in the following two Situations:
(1) in addition to the standard hCG assay, when that standard (Beckman Coulter) assay has shown a persistent elevation not explained by pregnancy;
(2) in place of the standard hCG assay, when the clinician is looking specifically for gestational trophoblastic disease instead of pregnancy.
Therefore, the "hCG, alternate method" test code can be ordered by clients in the following two Situations:
(1) in addition to the standard hCG assay, when that standard (Beckman Coulter) assay has shown a persistent elevation not explained by pregnancy;
(2) in place of the standard hCG assay, when the clinician is looking specifically for gestational trophoblastic disease instead of pregnancy.
Performing Laboratory
| Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute |
| 33608 Ortega Highway |
| San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675-2042 |
