A pregnancy test measures a hormone in the body called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). HCG is a hormone produced during pregnancy. It appears in the blood and urine of pregnant women as early as 10 days after conception.
How the Test is Performed
A pregnancy test is done using blood or urine. There are 2 types of blood tests:
- Qualitative, which measures whether the HCG hormone is present
- Quantitative, which measures how much HCG is present
The blood test is done by drawing a single tube of blood and sending it to a laboratory. You may wait anywhere from a few hours to more than a day to get the results.
The urine HCG test is most often performed by placing a drop of urine on a prepared chemical strip. It takes 1 to 2 minutes for a result.
For the urine test, you urinate into a cup.
For the blood test, the health care provider uses a needle and syringe to draw blood from your vein into a tube. Any discomfort you might feel from the blood draw will only last a few seconds.
How the Test will Feel
For the urine test, you urinate into a cup.
For the blood test, the provider uses a needle and syringe to draw blood from your vein into a tube. Any discomfort you might feel from the blood draw will only last a few seconds.
Why the Test is Performed
This test is done to:
- Determine if you are pregnant
- Diagnose abnormal conditions that can raise HCG levels
- Watch the development of the pregnancy during the first 2 months (quantitative test only)
Normal Results
HCG level rises rapidly during the first trimester of pregnancy and then slightly declines.
What Abnormal Results Mean
HCG level should almost double every 48 hours in the beginning of a pregnancy. HCG level that does not rise appropriately may indicate a problem with your pregnancy. Problems related to an abnormal rising HCG level include miscarriage and ectopic (tubal) pregnancy.