This test is generally prescribed in the early stages of pregnancy to check your HCG beta levels. In pregnancy, the beta HCG levels tend to rise pretty quickly, so the HCG beta specific serum test can
This test is generally prescribed in the early stages of pregnancy to check your HCG beta levels. In pregnancy, the beta HCG levels tend to rise pretty quickly, so the HCG beta specific serum test can be performed as early as 10 days after a missed menstrual period. Apart from confirming pregnancy, the HCG beta specific serum test can also help in determining the foetus’s age. This, in turn, allows checking for abnormalities like an ectopic (tubal) or molar pregnancy, diagnosing a miscarriage, and screening the baby for conditions like Down’s syndrome.
Certain types of cancers, like those of the ovary, testes, uterus, breast, or lung, are also known to increase the HCG levels in the body. So, the HCG beta specific serum tests can also help in checking the status of these conditions and to determine the efficacy of the treatment plan for the same.
Monitoring HCG levels can also help in the management of conditions like IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease), stomach ulcers, and liver cirrhosis.
Understanding the Test Results
Normally, the level of Beta HCG hormone in the body is less than 5mlU/ml. These values tend to double themselves in the body, starting from the 3rd week of gestation, peaking as gestation reaches the 10th week, after which the levels steadily fall. Higher than expected levels of HCG may indicate conditions like molar pregnancy, ovarian cancer, etc. in women and conditions like testicular cancer in men. On the other hand, lower levels of HCG may indicate the chances of a miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, etc. As the test may be prescribed to detect different conditions, it is best to consult your doctor about the results for a proper diagnosis.