HCG in blood serum - quantitative

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Blood test

Overview

Risks

Results

HCG in blood serum - quantitative

Alternative Names:

Serial beta HCG; Repeat quantitative beta HCG; Human chorionic gonadotrophin in blood serum - quantitative; Beta-HCG in blood serum - quantitative; Pregnancy test - serum - quantitative

What the risks are:

Possible risks from any blood test include:

excessive bleeding
fainting or feeling lightheaded
hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)
multiple punctures to locate veins

Special considerations:

Drugs that can decrease HCG measurements include diuretics and promethazine.

Drugs that can increase HCG measurements include anticonvulsants, antiparkinsonian drugs, phenothiazine, and promethazine.

Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.

Review Date: 11/30/2004
Reviewed By: Jacqueline A. Hart, M.D., Internal Medicine, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Boston, Ma.

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