Human chorionic gonadotropin (hcg) test

A pregnancy test can check to see if the hormone hCG is in your blood or urine. Your body makes this hormone when you're pregnant. Many people use home pregnancy tests to find out if they are pregnant.

A test for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is done to:

• See if you are pregnant.
• Find an ectopic pregnancy.
• Check the treatment of a molar pregnancy.
• See if there is a greater chance of genetic conditions such as Down syndrome. The test is done with other screening tests.
• Find and check on the treatment of a cancer that develops from an egg or sperm (germ cell cancer), such as cancer of the ovaries or testicles. In such cases, a test for alpha-fetoprotein may be done along with a test for hCG.

A urine or blood test for pregnancy can be done in your doctor's office, clinic, or lab.

A health professional uses a needle to take a blood sample, usually from the arm.

You catch urine in a cup given to you by a health professional. When you are finished, you give the cup back.

In general, there's nothing you have to do before this test, unless your doctor or midwife tells you to.

Each lab has a different range for what's normal. Your lab report should show the range that your lab uses for each test. The normal range is just a guide. Your doctor or midwife will also look at your results based on your age, health, and other factors. A value that isn't in the normal range may still be normal for you.

• If you are pregnant, very high levels of hCG can mean a multiple pregnancy (such as twins or triplets). It can also mean a molar pregnancy or Down syndrome. You may also be further along in an early pregnancy than you thought, based on your last menstrual period.
• In someone who is not pregnant, a high hCG level can be a sign of a tumor (cancerous or noncancerous). These tumors can develop from a sperm or egg cell (germ cell tumor), such as a tumor of the testicles or ovaries. It may also mean some types of cancer, such as cancer of the stomach, pancreas, large intestine, liver, or lung.

• If you are pregnant, a low level of hCG can mean an ectopic pregnancy or a miscarriage. It may also mean that you aren't as far along in an early pregnancy as you thought, based on your last menstrual period (LMP).
• If you are pregnant, levels of hCG that are going down abnormally can mean that a miscarriage (spontaneous abortion) is very likely.