A blood test to check levels of hCG can be used to determine the following:
- See whether you are pregnant.
- Find an ectopic pregnancy.
- Find and check the treatment of a molar pregnancy.
- See whether there is an increased chance of birth defects such as Down syndrome. The test is used in combination with other screening tests.
- Find and check 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.
Results:
High values
If you are pregnant, very high levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) can mean a multiple pregnancy (such as twins or triplets), a molar pregnancy, Down syndrome, or that you are further along in an early pregnancy than estimated by your last menstrual period (LMP).
In a man or a nonpregnant woman, a high hCG level can mean a tumor (cancerous or noncancerous) that develops from a sperm or egg cell (germ cell tumor), such as a tumor of the testicles or ovaries, is present. It may also mean some types of cancer, such as cancer of the stomach, pancreas, large intestine, liver, or lung.
Low values
If you are pregnant, low levels of hCG can mean an ectopic pregnancy, death of your baby, or that you are not as far along in an early pregnancy as estimated by your last menstrual period (LMP).
If you are pregnant, levels of hCG that are decreasing abnormally can mean a miscarriage (spontaneous abortion) is very likely.
Author: Sandy Jocoy, RN Last Updated: May 14, 2008 If you are pregnant, very high levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) can mean a multiple pregnancy (such as twins or triplets), a molar pregnancy, Down syndrome, or that you are further along in an early pregnancy than estimated by your last menstrual period (LMP).
In a man or a nonpregnant woman, a high hCG level can mean a tumor (cancerous or noncancerous) that develops from a sperm or egg cell (germ cell tumor), such as a tumor of the testicles or ovaries, is present. It may also mean some types of cancer, such as cancer of the stomach, pancreas, large intestine, liver, or lung.
Low values
If you are pregnant, low levels of hCG can mean an ectopic pregnancy, death of your baby, or that you are not as far along in an early pregnancy as estimated by your last menstrual period (LMP).
If you are pregnant, levels of hCG that are decreasing abnormally can mean a miscarriage (spontaneous abortion) is very likely.
Medical Review: Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine
Siobhan M. Dolan, MD, MPH - Reproductive Genetics
http://health.msn.com/health-topics/cancer/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100070143
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