When a BhCG blood test is ordered, the results are intended to tell a woman if she happens to be pregnant. The test is usually ordered to follow-up the results of a urine test or a home pregnancy test. When there is hCG present in the blood, then there is a pregnancy. This test may be ordered twice because of how fast hCG levels can rise. A negative result can occur in the early days of a pregnancy, but a positive result always occurs at a certain point.
The BhCG blood test may also be ordered to detect certain conditions that may occur during a pregnancy as well. If your pregnancy has been confirmed and this blood test has been ordered, here is why this is happening.
When Is the BhCG Blood Test Ordered?
This blood test becomes highly reliable at the 10 day mark after a missed period. If there is a suspected problem with the pregnancy, then the BhCG blood test will also be ordered. Women who experience the following symptoms may wish to speak with their doctor about having this test.
1. Abnormal bleeding that occurs whether or not a pregnancy has been confirmed, including unusual spotting.
2. Lower back pain that does not seem to improve even with rest and other at-home methods of care.
3. Cramping or pain that occurs in the lower abdomen or along one side of the pelvis that either gets progressively worse or occurs in sharp, intermittent attacks.
When these symptoms occur and are not treated, there may be a number of additional conditions that develop which can threaten the health of a woman. This includes low blood pressure, bleeding which does not stop, feeling faint, have severe pains, and have symptoms that are similar to influenza.
The BhCG Blood Test and the Progesterone Test
There are a number of ways to determine the health and viability of a pregnancy. One of the most common combination tests that are ordered is the BhCG blood test in conjunction with a progesterone test. This will help to determine if a woman is truly pregnant, is experiencing a false pregnancy, or if it has become an ectopic pregnancy. In high-risk pregnancies, this combination test is routinely ordered to determine if the pregnancy is remaining viable.
Discovering an ectopic pregnancy is highly important and why the blood test will be ordered. If the area around an ectopic pregnancy ruptures, then it could begin to bleed. Once the bleeding occurs, it is very common for a woman to experience cardiac arrest.
The BhCG blood test and the progesterone test may also be ordered to help monitor the health of a woman after she experiences a miscarriage for some reason.
Women who are not suspected to be pregnant may also be ordered to have this combination test by their doctor to confirm that they are not pregnant. This is typically done when x-rays need to be conducted, but may also be due to the need of a specific drug or other tests that could harm a growing fetus. Most health institutions have this test combination in place as standard practice for all women so that medical interventions are safe.
The BhCG Blood Test and Other Combinations
There are many tests that are ordered for pregnant women throughout a pregnancy to determine potential outcomes for the pregnancy as well. The BhCG blood test is used alongside a few other tests to determine if the pregnancy may produce a child with Down Syndrome. It is also used for a second trimester maternal serum screening.
What Do the Test Results Mean?
Most of the time a positive or negative test will indicate whether or not a woman is pregnant. False negatives may occur with the BhCG blood test if it is ordered too early or if women are taking allergy medications, drinking numerous cups of coffee, or if certain drugs are being taken. False positives may occur if there are excess proteins in the blood or issues with the pituitary gland.
There may also be a false positive result that occurs if there are antibodies in place that would attack the hCG molecules that are in the blood. When these false results are persistent, then a different method of testing will be used to determine if a woman is pregnant or if there may be conditions related to the pregnancy.
In most cases, the BhCG blood test will determine if a woman is pregnant. Speak with your doctor about test results to see if any follow-up may be necessary.