BETA HCG QUANT SERIAL

People with heterophilic antibodies might have unusual results in a number of different kinds of assays. Immunoassays of all kinds use animal antibodies. Individuals who have worked as animal laboratory technicians or in veterinary facilities or who were reared on farms are more likely to develop heterophilic antibodies. These are human antibodies directed against animal-derived antigens used in immunoassays 1 4 5 6 7 8 9. The most common are heterophilic antibodies. Some individuals have circulating factors in their serum that interact with the hCG antibody. The purpose of this Committee Opinion is to offer recommendations to better manage situations in which hCG assays may provide false-positive results. It is vital to remember that, despite technical advances, the ability of laboratory measurements to guide the clinician appropriately in every circumstance is limited 1 2 3. With the technologic improvements, hCG assays are now capable of detecting the presence of a pregnancy before a missed menstrual period. These assays have revolutionized the management of ectopic pregnancy and gestational trophoblastic disease, which now have a substantially lower mortality rate as a result of the ability to quantitate circulating (serum) and urinary hCG. Patients should be notified if they are at risk for recurrent false-positive hCG test results, and this information should be included in the patient’s medical record.Ĭlinical management of many gynecologic conditions has improved dramatically over recent decades through the development of very sensitive and highly specific assays for hormones, particularly human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Physicians must decide whether the risks of waiting for confirmation of results outweigh the risks of failing to take immediate medical action.

BETA HCG QUANT SERIAL

Methods to rule out the presence of interfering substances include using a urine test, rerunning the assay with serial dilutions of serum, preabsorbing serum, and using another assay. False-positive and false-negative test results can occur with any specimen, and caution should be exercised when clinical findings and laboratory results are discordant. However, some individuals have circulating factors in their serum (eg, heterophilic antibodies or nonactive forms of hCG) that interact with the hCG antibody and cause unusual or unexpected test results. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test result.Clinically significant false-positive human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) test results are rare. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. The expected HCG ranges in pregnant women are based on the length of the pregnancy. In pregnancy, HCG level rises rapidly during the first trimester and then declines slightly. Results are given in milli-international units per milliliter (mUI/mL). This test is also done to diagnose abnormal conditions not related to pregnancy that can raise HCG level. It is also used as part of a screening test for Down syndrome. It can also assist in the diagnosis of abnormal pregnancies, such as ectopic pregnancies, molar pregnancies, and possible miscarriages. Quantitative HCG measurement helps determine the exact age of the fetus. HCG appears in the blood and urine of pregnant women as early as 10 days after conception.

Others feel only a prick or stinging sensation.

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain.

Beta hcg quant