BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuHCG blood test - qualitativeBeta-HCG in blood serum - qualitative; Human chorionic gonadotrophin - serum - qualitative; Pregnancy test - blood - qualitative; Serum HCG - qualitative; HCG in blood serum - qualitativeA qualitative human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG or hCG) blood test checks if there is a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin in your blood. HCG is a hormone produced in the body during pregnancy.Human chorionic gonadotropinThis type of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG or hCG) test checks if there is a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin in your urine. HCG is a...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Other HCG tests include:HCG urine test HCG urine testThis type of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG or hCG) test checks if there is a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin in your urine. HCG is a...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Quantitative pregnancy test (checks specific level of HCG in your blood) Quantitative pregnancy testA quantitative human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG or hCG) blood test measures the specific level of HCG in the blood. HCG is a hormone produced in th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How the Test is Performed A blood sample is needed. This is most often taken from a vein. The procedure is called a venipuncture.VenipunctureVenipuncture is the collection of blood from a vein. It is most often done for laboratory testing.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How to Prepare for the Test No special preparation is needed. How the Test will Feel When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing. Why the Test is Performed Most often, this test is performed to determine if you are pregnant. HCG level in the blood may also be high in women with certain types of ovarian tumors or in men with testicular tumors. Normal Results The test result will be reported as negative or positive.The test is negative if you are not pregnant. The test is positive if you are pregnant. What Abnormal Results Mean If your blood HCG is positive and you do not have a pregnancy properly implanted in the uterus, it may indicate:Ectopic pregnancy Ectopic pregnancyAn ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that occurs outside the womb (uterus).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Miscarriage MiscarriageA miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of a fetus before the 20th week of pregnancy. Pregnancy losses after the 20th week are called stillbirths. Mi...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Testicular cancer (in men) Testicular cancerTesticular cancer is cancer that starts in the testicles. The testicles are the male reproductive glands located in the scrotum.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Trophoblastic tumor Trophoblastic tumorChoriocarcinoma is a fast-growing cancer that occurs in a woman's uterus (womb). The abnormal cells start in the tissue that would normally become t...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Hydatidiform mole Hydatidiform moleHydatidiform mole (HM) is a rare mass or growth that forms inside the womb (uterus) at the beginning of a pregnancy. It is a type of gestational tro...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Ovarian cancerOvarian cancerOvarian cancer is cancer that starts in the ovaries. The ovaries are the female reproductive organs that produce eggs.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Risks Risks of having blood drawn are slight, but may include:Excessive bleeding Fainting or feeling lightheaded Blood accumulating under the skin (hematoma) Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken) Considerations False positive tests may occur when certain hormones are increased, such as after menopause or when taking hormone supplements.MenopauseMenopause is the time in a woman's life when her periods (menstruation) stop. Most often, it is a natural, normal body change that occurs between ag...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article A pregnancy test is considered to be very accurate. When the test is negative but pregnancy is still suspected, the test should be repeated in 1 week.Open ReferencesReferencesGeno KA, Cervinski MA, Nerenz RD. Pregnancy and the fetus. In: Winter WE, Holmquist B, Sokoll LJ, Berthholf RL, eds. Handbook of Diagnostic Endocrinology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 15.Jeelani R, Bluth MH. Reproductive function and pregnancy. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 26.Nerenz RD, Braga JA. Pregnancy and its disorders. In: Rifai N, Chiu RWK, Young I, Burnham Carey-Ann D, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Textbook of Laboratory Medicine. 7th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2023:chap 59.AllVideoImagesTogBlood test - illustration Blood is drawn from a vein (venipuncture), usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. Preparation may vary depending on the specific test.Blood testillustrationBlood test - illustration Blood is drawn from a vein (venipuncture), usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. Preparation may vary depending on the specific test.Blood testillustration Tests for HCG blood test - qualitative HCG blood test - qualitativeHCG in urineHCG blood test - quantitativePregnancy testHormone levelsRelated Information HCG in urine(Medical Test)Ectopic pregnancy(Condition)Miscarriage(Condition)Testicular cancer(Condition)Choriocarcinoma(Condition)Hydatidiform mole(Condition)Ovarian cancer(Condition)Ovarian cysts(Condition)Ovarian cancer - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 11/10/2022 Reviewed By: John D. Jacobson, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
HCG blood test - qualitativeBeta-HCG in blood serum - qualitative; Human chorionic gonadotrophin - serum - qualitative; Pregnancy test - blood - qualitative; Serum HCG - qualitative; HCG in blood serum - qualitativeA qualitative human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG or hCG) blood test checks if there is a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin in your blood. HCG is a hormone produced in the body during pregnancy.Human chorionic gonadotropinThis type of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG or hCG) test checks if there is a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin in your urine. HCG is a...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Other HCG tests include:HCG urine test HCG urine testThis type of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG or hCG) test checks if there is a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin in your urine. HCG is a...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Quantitative pregnancy test (checks specific level of HCG in your blood) Quantitative pregnancy testA quantitative human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG or hCG) blood test measures the specific level of HCG in the blood. HCG is a hormone produced in th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How the Test is Performed A blood sample is needed. This is most often taken from a vein. The procedure is called a venipuncture.VenipunctureVenipuncture is the collection of blood from a vein. It is most often done for laboratory testing.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How to Prepare for the Test No special preparation is needed. How the Test will Feel When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing. Why the Test is Performed Most often, this test is performed to determine if you are pregnant. HCG level in the blood may also be high in women with certain types of ovarian tumors or in men with testicular tumors. Normal Results The test result will be reported as negative or positive.The test is negative if you are not pregnant. The test is positive if you are pregnant. What Abnormal Results Mean If your blood HCG is positive and you do not have a pregnancy properly implanted in the uterus, it may indicate:Ectopic pregnancy Ectopic pregnancyAn ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that occurs outside the womb (uterus).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Miscarriage MiscarriageA miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of a fetus before the 20th week of pregnancy. Pregnancy losses after the 20th week are called stillbirths. Mi...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Testicular cancer (in men) Testicular cancerTesticular cancer is cancer that starts in the testicles. The testicles are the male reproductive glands located in the scrotum.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Trophoblastic tumor Trophoblastic tumorChoriocarcinoma is a fast-growing cancer that occurs in a woman's uterus (womb). The abnormal cells start in the tissue that would normally become t...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Hydatidiform mole Hydatidiform moleHydatidiform mole (HM) is a rare mass or growth that forms inside the womb (uterus) at the beginning of a pregnancy. It is a type of gestational tro...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Ovarian cancerOvarian cancerOvarian cancer is cancer that starts in the ovaries. The ovaries are the female reproductive organs that produce eggs.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Risks Risks of having blood drawn are slight, but may include:Excessive bleeding Fainting or feeling lightheaded Blood accumulating under the skin (hematoma) Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken) Considerations False positive tests may occur when certain hormones are increased, such as after menopause or when taking hormone supplements.MenopauseMenopause is the time in a woman's life when her periods (menstruation) stop. Most often, it is a natural, normal body change that occurs between ag...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article A pregnancy test is considered to be very accurate. When the test is negative but pregnancy is still suspected, the test should be repeated in 1 week.Open ReferencesReferencesGeno KA, Cervinski MA, Nerenz RD. Pregnancy and the fetus. In: Winter WE, Holmquist B, Sokoll LJ, Berthholf RL, eds. Handbook of Diagnostic Endocrinology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 15.Jeelani R, Bluth MH. Reproductive function and pregnancy. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 26.Nerenz RD, Braga JA. Pregnancy and its disorders. In: Rifai N, Chiu RWK, Young I, Burnham Carey-Ann D, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Textbook of Laboratory Medicine. 7th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2023:chap 59.