Pregnancy Test

Synonyms

human chorionic gonadotropin test, HCG test, pregancy test

Purpose

The test confirms pregnancy by looking for the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone in blood or urine. This test is essential for early prenatal care since it can help guide necessary therapy and lifestyle changes. Healthcare providers often request the test when signs of pregnancy appear or before patients start certain medications.

Pregnancy can raise the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and kidney abnormalities. Healthcare providers may conduct a urinalysis test alongside a pregnancy test to check for underlying conditions, such as infections or elevated protein levels, that could impact the pregnancy.

A healthcare provider may conduct a urine culture and sensitivity test if a positive HCG test indicates a suspected infection, as pregnancy increases the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs). Early detection and treatment of diseases during pregnancy are critical, as untreated UTIs can lead to consequences such as preterm labour.

Patient Preparation

No special preparations are required.

Samples

Collect 1 ml of urine with a minimum volume of 0.5 ml in a plastic container. To increase the accuracy of the test, collect the sample during the first urination of the morning. After collection, deliver the sample to the laboratory and refrigerate it.

Reference Range

Negative/Normal

Results Turnaround

1 day after receipt of samples.

Diseases / Diagnostic Indicators of Pregnancy

The urine pregnancy test detects hCG, a hormone placental cells release immediately after a fertilized egg adheres to the uterine lining. The presence of hCG in urine is a reliable sign of pregnancy because this hormone is usually missing in non-pregnant people.

In addition to confirming pregnancy, hCG levels can offer further diagnostic information. Abnormally high or low hCG levels may indicate underlying difficulties or health issues. For example, increased hCG levels may indicate a multiple pregnancy (e.g., twins) or, in rare situations, a molar pregnancy in which aberrant tissue growth develops in the uterus.

For further information, see this extensive study on hCG and pregnancy markers.