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Glossary of Terms

Human Chorionic Gondotrophin (hCG)
A hormone produced by the placenta and which is essential to normal pregnancy. hCG can be detected as soon as 7-10 days after conception using a home pregnancy test kit. Those kits and the ones used in the doctor's office, rely on the measurement of hCG level, which increases rapidly after conception. hCG is also a component of the 'triple screen' used to screen women for the risk of Down syndrome in their fetus.
This is Children's Glossary of Medical Terms - and much more. You'll find the basic definitions and, for many medical subjects, a larger medical context written by an experienced Children's pediatrician. All the definitions are in an easy-to-print format.

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Date Last Modified: 08/25/2003 08:39