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Test Code HCG Quant Quantitative hCG, Serum

Performing Laboratory

Memorial Hospital Laboratory- Automated Procedures  304-388-5953       
Women and Children's Hospital Laboratory 304-388-2385
Teays Valley Hospital Laboratory 304-757-1770
Plateau Medical Center Laboratory 304-469-8621

Specimen Requirements

Plasma-Mint Green, Dark Green Lithium Heparin or Serum-SST gold top, red top

Allow SST or red top to completely clot

Spin and physically separate plasma/serum from contact with cells as soon as possible

3 mL plasma/serum or minimum 2 full microtainers

Specimen Rejection

  • Improperly labeled, collected, stored, and transported
  • Quantity not sufficient

Storage and Stability

Room temperature 15-30oC 8 hrs
Refrigerated 2-8oC 48 hrs
Frozen <-20oC 6 months

Reference Values

Adult male, age 19-67 < 1 mIU/mL
Non-pregnant, female, age 18-62 1-3 mIU/mL

A patient with a negative result should be redrawn in 2 days and assayed again, because hCG values in pregnancy double every 48 hours.

Methodology

Chemiluminescent two-step immunoenzymatic sandwich assay

Days Test Set Up and Turnaround

Monday through Sunday, Continuously

AM Collection Expected by 9AM same day
Routine Expected within 24 hrs
Stat Expected within 1 hr
Timed Expected results are test dependant

CPT Coding

84702

Additional Information

Total βhCG concentrations were measured in human serum samples collected from apparently healthy non-pregnant females using the Access Total βhCG (5th IS) assay. Concentrations of total βhCG measured in 100% of samples were determined to be ≤ 11.6 mIU/mL (IU/L). The observed ranges and 95th percentile of total βhCG concentrations are shown in the table below.

Reference Population for non-pregnant females Reference Range (mIU/mL)
>17 yrs - 39 yrs 0.0-0.6
>39 yrs 0.0-3.1
Post-menopausal female 0.1-11.6

Post-menopausal status confirmed using cirulating FSH and estradiol levels.Healthy, non-pregnant individuals typically have low (< 5 mIU/mL [IU/L]) to undetectable hCG levels; however, hCG can rise to detectable levels in peri- and post-menopausal women.hCG results between 5 mIU/mL and 25 mIU/mL may be indicative of early pregnancy but should be interpreted in light of the total clinical presentation of the patient.