Why is this procedure done?
Human chorionic gonadotropin is the full name for hCG. It is a hormone made by your placenta when you are pregnant. Some kinds of tumors also make hCG. The doctor may order a hCG test to: ‚
- Learn if you are pregnant.
- Follow a pregnancy or miscarriage and look for problems.
- Learn more about certain kinds of tumors.
- Check for tumors of the testes or ovaries.
- Go along with other tests on hormones.
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What will the results be?
- The doctor will look at the results of your test. The doctor may learn that you are pregnant. The doctor may also learn that you have signs of an illness that needs treatment.
- Some hCG tests only look to see if this hormone is present or not. Others look to see how much hCG is present.
- If the results are negative or you have low levels of hCG, you are likely not pregnant. You may have some other illness causing your signs.
- If the results are positive or you have high levels of hCG, you may be pregnant.
- Your doctor may order more tests to learn more about what is wrong. This will help check a result that is not normal or to learn more about a diagnosis.
- Certain drugs can cause false test results.
- The doctor will talk with you about treatment.
What happens before the procedure?
- There are no special things to do before the test.
- Talk to your doctor about:
- All the drugs you are taking
- If you have any bleeding problems
What happens during the procedure?
It will only take a few minutes to have this test. You will be awake the whole time. The test can be done in 2 ways, a urine test or a blood test. ‚
- Urine test ¢ ˆ ’ Most often done with urine from first thing in the morning.
- You will pee in a small container to collect the urine. The lab will test the urine to see if hCG is present or not.
- Blood test ¢ ˆ ’ May be done at any time of day.
- You will have a small amount of blood taken from you with a needle. You may have a small amount of pain. The needle will be taken out and a bandage will be put on your skin. The lab will test your blood to see if hCG is present and how much.
What happens after the procedure?
- You may want to sit quietly for a few minutes before standing up. This will help keep you from feeling dizzy if you had blood drawn.
- Put pressure with your other hand where the needle was. This will help with bruising and bleeding.
- Ask your doctor when you will get the results.
What care is needed at home?
You may do your everyday activities when you get back home. ‚
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. This test will help your doctor understand if you have a problem. Together you can make a plan for more care. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Pain
- Bruising
- Bleeding
- Feeling dizzy
- Infection
Where can I learn more?
American Association for Clinical Chemistry ‚
http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/hcg/tab/test ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚