MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Pregnancy test

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Pregnancy test

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Definition How the Test is Performed How the Test Will Feel	Why the Test is Performed Normal Results What Abnormal Results Mean Considerations

Illustrations

Pregnancy test

Definition Return to top

A pregnancy test measures a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). HCG is a hormone produced during pregnancy. It appears in the blood and urine of pregnant women as early as 10 days after conception.

See also:

How the Test is Performed Return to top

A pregnancy test may be performed using blood or urine. There are two types of blood pregnancy tests:

Qualitative, which measures whether the HCG hormone is present
Quantitative, which measures how much HCG is present

The blood test is done by drawing a single tube of blood and sending it to a laboratory. You may wait anywhere from a few hours to more than a day to get the results.

The urine HCG test is usually performed by placing a drop of urine on a prepared chemical strip. It generally takes 1 to 2 minutes for a result.

How the Test Will Feel Return to top

The urine test involves normal urination into a cup. The serum tests involve drawing blood through a needle and into a tube. Any discomfort you might feel from the blood draw will only last a few seconds.

Why the Test is Performed Return to top

This test may be done to:

Determine if you are pregnant
Measure the age of the fetus (quantitative test only)
Diagnose abnormal conditions that can raise HCG levels

Normal Results Return to top

HCG levels rise rapidly during the first trimester of pregnancy and then slightly decline.

What Abnormal Results Mean Return to top

HCG levels should rise every 48 hours in the beginning of a pregnancy. HCG levels that do not rise appropriately may indicate a problem with your pregnancy. Some problems associated with an abnormally rising HCG level include miscarriage and ectopic (tubal) pregnancy.

Extremely high levels of HCG may suggest a molar pregnancy or more than one fetus -- for example, twins.

Your health care provider will understand the significance of your HCG levels, and he or she should discuss the levels with you.

Considerations Return to top

Urine pregnancy tests will only be positive when you have sufficient HCG in your blood. If you are very early in your pregnancy, and the HCG level is below 25-50 mIU/mL, the test will be negative.

If you think you are pregnant, repeat the pregnancy test at home or at your health care provider's office.

Update Date: 11/30/2006

Updated by: Audra Robertson, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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