Beta HCG Total, Quantitative Test

The beta hCG test can be performed as soon as 10 days post conception to determine if one is pregnant. The beta hCG test measures the level of the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone, which is produced by the body in high amounts during pregnancy. This is one of the most reliable methods for determining pregnancy in its early stages and can be opted for after 8-10 days of missing a menstrual cycle.

One of the most common reasons for performing an hCG test is to confirm a pregnancy, and the test may be prescribed along with a urine test. In the early stages of pregnancy, the hCG test can also help assess the foetus’s age.

• Apart from this, other reasons why doctors may prescribe the test include:
• To rule out an ectopic pregnancy
• Checking if a person is pregnant before they undergo treatment or surgery
• Prenatal Down syndrome screening
• Monitoring a pregnancy with risks of miscarriage
• Diagnosis of pregnancy-related tumours

Both hCG and beta hCG are produced by the placenta of a pregnant woman but their main difference lies in the form in which they exist within the body. While hCG is found in the blood in a bound form, beta hCG is a form of the hormone that exists in a free form. As a result, detection of beta hCG in the blood is more accurate than hCG.

A beta hCG blood test can identify pregnancy as early as 6-8 days after ovulation. However, for a more accurate result, the beta hCG blood test should be opted for after at least 1-2 weeks of a missed menstruation cycle. In keeping with the same, most doctors also do not prescribe the beta hCG test until after the due date of one’s menstruation cycle has passed.

If one is not pregnant, their hCG levels should be less than 5 mIU/ml. On the other hand, the levels of the hormone, as detected by the beta hCG test (serum) for a pregnant woman will vary depending on how many weeks have passed since their last menstrual cycle.

Typically, the normal range of a beta hCG test (serum) for different weeks (after the last menstrual cycle) is as follows:

• 3 Weeks: 5-50 mIU/ml
• 4 Weeks: 5-426 mIU/ml
• 5 Weeks: 18-7,340 mIU/ml

These ranges may also vary depending on if the person has regular or irregular menstrual cycles, and on how long these cycles are based on individual factors affecting one’s health. It is best to consult a doctor with the results of the beta hCG test (serum) for a proper diagnosis of the progression of pregnancy.

A positive result for a beta hCG lab test means that the person has elevated levels of the hCG hormone, which generally indicates a pregnancy. If the levels are higher than expected as compared to the gestation period, they may indicate being pregnant with twins or triplets or an increased risk of Down syndrome.

High levels of hCG in the lab test may also be indicative of various medical conditions like:

• Gestational trophoblastic disease
• Preeclampsia
• Cancers of the stomach, liver, pancreas, breast, lung, or skin
• Malignant or benign germ cell tumours of the ovary or testicles
• Cirrhosis
• Ulcers in the stomach
• Inflammatory bowel disease

It is best to consult a doctor with the results of the hCG lab test for proper diagnosis.

The quantitative hCG test is one of the most accurate tests for confirming pregnancy. However, it has also been known to give false-positive or false-negative results. If the quantitative hCG test is performed too soon in the pregnancy when the body has not had the chance to produce enough amounts of the hormone, one may receive a negative result despite being pregnant, while there are several conditions like germ cell tumours, certain cancers, etc. that can elevate the hCG levels, resulting in a positive report even when one is not pregnant. A doctor can prescribe further tests as a follow-up to clear any doubt.