What is a pregnancy blood test?
A pregnancy blood test is a test that measures the level of a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in your blood. hCG is produced by the placenta after a fertilized egg implants in the uterus. It is the hormone that most home pregnancy tests detect.
Why is a pregnancy blood test done?
A pregnancy blood test may be done to:
Confirm a pregnancy
Check the health of a pregnancy
Diagnose certain pregnancy complications, such as an ectopic pregnancy or a miscarriage
How is a pregnancy blood test done?
A pregnancy blood test is a simple procedure. A healthcare provider will draw a small sample of blood from a vein in your arm. The blood sample will then be sent to a laboratory for testing.
When is a pregnancy blood test done?
A pregnancy blood test can be done as early as six to eight days after ovulation. However, it is most accurate if it is done after you have missed your period.
What do the results of a pregnancy blood test mean?
A positive pregnancy blood test means that hCG is present in your blood, which means that you are pregnant. A negative pregnancy blood test means that hCG is not present in your blood, which means that you are not pregnant.
Quantitative and qualitative pregnancy blood tests
There are two types of pregnancy blood tests: quantitative and qualitative.
Quantitative pregnancy blood test: This test measures the exact amount of hCG in your blood. It can be used to track the progression of a pregnancy or to diagnose certain pregnancy complications.
Qualitative pregnancy blood test: This test simply tells you whether or not hCG is present in your blood. It is less expensive than a quantitative pregnancy blood test, but it is not as informative.
Examples of when a pregnancy blood test may be done
Here are some examples of when a pregnancy blood test may be done:
A woman misses her period and wants to confirm that she is pregnant.
A woman has symptoms of pregnancy, such as morning sickness or fatigue, but she is not sure if she is pregnant.
A woman has a history of miscarriages or ectopic pregnancies.
A woman is taking certain medications that can affect the results of a home pregnancy test.
A woman is undergoing fertility treatments.
Interesting facts about pregnancy blood tests
hCG levels double every two to three days in early pregnancy.
hCG levels peak at around 10 to 12 weeks of pregnancy and then start to decline.
hCG can be detected in the blood of pregnant women even after they have given birth.
hCG can also be detected in the blood of women with certain types of cancer.
Conclusion
A pregnancy blood test is a safe and accurate way to confirm a pregnancy. It is also a useful tool for monitoring the health of a pregnancy and diagnosing certain pregnancy complications. If you have any questions about pregnancy blood tests, talk to your healthcare provider.
About Author & Compiler
Sharad Mishra
Clinical Pharmacist, Lab Diagnostic Expert, Lab Franchise Consultant, Diet Psychologist, Believe in Simplicity & on a Mission to Improve Lives
Bsc, B Pharmacy, ICMS- Sydney- Competitive Edge in Management, Professional Diploma in Nutrition, Professional Diploma in Health & Fitness (EQF Level V), Diploma in Sports Nutrition, IIT Madras Certificate in Electrocardiogram- Interpretation & Application in Clinical Practice, IIT Kanpur Diploma in Introduction to Advanced Cognitive Processes, Certificate in ISO 15189-2022- Medical Laboratories Quality Assurance & Competence CPD Certified - Looks after Lab Franchisee Model of Ranbaxy lab
Author is having more than 19 years of experience in Lab Diagnostic, Operations, Lab Equipment OEM & Pharmaceutical Operations, Over the course of his corporate career, Sharad Mishra has written various articles on Lab test interpretation, Sales & Marketing, as well as on Drug Delivery module, apart from such articles and short notes, Sharad Mishra has also started its Youtube Channel (http://www.youtube.com/c/SKMHealthMythology), which talks about various aspects right from Covid 19 pandemic to health & some interesting facts about mythology.
Sharad Mishra is also a licensed pharmacist with experience & interest in infectious disease, metabolic diseases i.e. diabetes, hypertension education & management. He has a passion for personalized patient care and believes that education is essential to living a healthy life. His goal is to motivate individuals to find ways to manage their chronic conditions & also started online learning programs to tackle & reverse metabolic issues i.e. SugarSolve, PcosSolve & FatSolve , these programs are designed to reverse diabetes, PCOS & weight issue without medicines on the principles of Human Physiology.
Work aside, Sharad Mishra is a photographer and lives his passion for nature photography.
