Laboratory Test Reference Guide

Laboratory Information

Test Name

B-HCG (gestational)

External Price (excl. GST)

15.57

Specimen Collection

Adult Specimen

Heparin (light green), SST(gold), "T-" labs SST (gold)

Specimen Collection and Transport Protocols

Beta HCG (for all males, and females with any clinical details other than routine pregnancy)

Paediatric Specimen

0.4ml Heparin (light green) or Plain(red).

Test Information

Department

Biochemistry

Test Availability

Mon - Sun, 24hrs

Laboratory Turnaround Time

3hrs or1 hr urgent request.

Method

Cobas Pro ECLIA Rural Vitros XT7600

Unit of measurement

IU/L

Reference interval

Normal (non-pregnant) < 5 IU/L.
Confirmation of pregnancy > 25 IU/L.
Patients with levels between 5 - 25 should be retested in 24 - 48 hours
Approximate levels in early pregnancy.
Weeks post LMP  
  4 weeks           3 - 426          IU/L
  5 weeks         19 - 7340        IU/L
  6 weeks     1080 - 56500     IU/L
 10 weeks  54100 - 288000   IU/L

In the normal early pregnancy levels should rise by 65% each 48 hours, or 114% over 72 hours
B-hCG values generally peak during the first trimester and decline slowly through the remainder of the pregnancy.
A sharply reduced or falling level may indicate an abnormal pregnancy.
Menopausal women may have levels upto 14  IU/L, but if level is >5 repeat and also ask for an FSH level .

Uncertainty of measurement

10%

Minimum Volume

0.2 mL heparin plasma or serum.

Electronic Information

Registration Code

HCG

HL7 mapping code

$HCG

LOINC Code

21198-7