Pregnancy test
Definition
A pregnancy test measures a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (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. See also:
Why is the Test Performed?
This test may be done to: - Determine if you are pregnant
- Diagnose abnormal conditions that can raise HCG levels
- Watch the development of the pregnancy during the first 3 months (quantitative test only)
How is the Test Performed?
A pregnancy test may be performed using blood or urine. There are two types of blood pregnancy tests:
- Qualitative, which measures whether the HCG hormone is present
- Quantitative, which measures how much 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 usually performed by placing a drop of urine on a prepared chemical strip. It generally takes 1 to 2 minutes for a result.
How will the Test Feel?
The urine test involves normal urination into a cup. The serum tests involve drawing blood through a needle and into a tube. Any discomfort you might feel from the blood draw will only last a few seconds.
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