A pregnancy test measures a hormone in the body called human chorionic gonadotropin (ß-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.
How the Test is Performed
A pregnancy test is done using blood or urine. There are 2 types of blood tests:
Qualitative, which measures
whether
the ß-HCG hormone is present
Quantitative, which measures
how much
ß-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 most often performed by placing a drop of urine on a prepared chemical strip. It takes 1 to 2 minutes for a result.
For the urine test, you urinate into a cup.
For the blood test, the health care provider uses a needle and syringe to draw blood from your vein into a tube. Any discomfort you might feel from the blood draw will only last a few seconds.
How the Test will Feel
For the urine test, you urinate into a cup.
For the blood test, the provider uses a needle and syringe to draw blood from your vein into a tube. Any discomfort you might feel from the blood draw will only last a few seconds.
Why the Test is Performed
This test is done to:
Determine if you are pregnant
Diagnose abnormal conditions that can raise ß-HCG levels
Watch the development of the pregnancy during the first 2 months (quantitative test only)
Normal Results
ß-HCG level rises rapidly during the first trimester of pregnancy and then slightly declines.
What Abnormal Results Mean
ß-HCG level should almost double every 48 hours in the beginning of a pregnancy. ß-HCG level that does not rise appropriately may indicate a problem with your pregnancy. Problems related to an abnormal rising ß-HCG level include miscarriage and ectopic (tubal) pregnancy.
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