Lab Dept:

Chemistry

Test Name:

HCG - BETA, QUANTITATIVE, SERUM

General Information

Lab Order Codes:

HCGQ

Synonyms:

HCG (Pregnancy), Quantitative; Beta HCG, Quantitative; Gonadotropin, Chorionic, Quantitative

CPT Codes:

84702 – Gonadotropin, chorionic (hCG), quantitative

Test Includes:

HCG level reported in mIU/mL.

Logistics

Test Indications:

Diagnosing or monitoring pregnancy or investigation of suspected ectopic pregnancy.

Lab Testing Sections:

Chemistry - Sendouts

Referred to:

Allina Hospital Laboratories (Abbott Northwestern Hospital – Mpls or United Hospital – St Paul) (Allina Test#: HCG/690)

Phone Numbers:

MIN Lab: 612-813-6280

STP Lab: 651-220-6550

Test Availability:

Daily, 24 hours

Turnaround Time:

Routine: 1 day, Stat: 3 hours

Special Instructions:

N/A

Specimen

Specimen Type:

Blood

Container:

Red top tube

Draw Volume:

6 mL (Minimum: 3 mL) blood

Processed Volume:

2 mL (Minimum: 1 mL) serum

Collection:

Routine venipuncture

Special Processing:

Lab Staff: Centrifuge specimen, aliquot into a screw-capped plastic vial. Store at refrigerated temperatures. Ship to ANW or United on an ice pack.

STAT Requests:
Mpls: Call a Quicksilver courier for Direct Service to Allina Health Laboratories.
STP: Send specimen to United Lab using the pneumatic tube.

Patient Preparation:

In patients receiving therapy with high biotin doses (ie, >5 mg/day), no sample should be taken until at least 8 hours after the last biotin administration.

Sample Rejection:

Mislabeled or unlabeled specimens

Interpretive

Reference Range:

Healthy Non-pregnant premenopausal women:

<5 mIU/mL

Healthy Post-menopausal women (>55 years):

<14 mIU/mL

For Gestational Assessment: Weeks Post LMP (Last Mentrual Period)

Weeks Post LMP

Range: (mIU/mL)

3 – 4

6 – 750 mIU/mL

4 - 5

217 – 7,138 mIU/mL

5 – 6

158 – 31,795 mIU/mL

6 – 7

3,697 – 163,563 mIU/mL

7 – 8

32,065 – 149,571 mIU/mL

8 – 9

63,803 – 151,410 mIU/mL

9 – 10

45,509 – 186,977 mIU/mL

10 - 12

27,832 – 210,612 mIU/mL

12 - 14

13,950 – 62,530 mIU/mL

14 – 15

12,039 – 70,971 mIU/mL

15 – 16

9,040 – 56,451 mIU/mL

16 – 19

8,099 – 58,176 mIU/mL

Critical Values:

N/A

Limitations:

For diagnostic purposes, the results should always be assessed in conjunction with the patient’s medical history, clinical examination and other findings.

As with all tests containing monoclonal mouse antibodies, erroneous findings may be obtained from samples taken from patients who have been treated with monoclonal mouse antibodies or have received them for diagnostic purposes.

In rare cases, interference due to extremely high titers of antibodies to streptavidin and ruthenium can occur.

Methodology:

Sandwich ECLIA

References:

Allina Hospitals and Clinics May 2009

Updates:

2/26/2013: Turnaround time update.