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| Pregnancy tests measure
a hormone called Human Chorionic Gonadotropin or hCG. hCG is produced
by Placental tissue. This begins as soon as the developing embryo
has attached itself to the uterine wall. (It is actually first made
by the stage of embryo development called the blastocyst.) This same
hormone is what is measured both by the Home Urine Pregnancy Tests and
the Laboratory Pregnancy Tests. |
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Laboratory
Pregnancy Tests
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The Laboratory Urine Pregnancy
Test uses the same technique as your Home Pregnancy Test. Home tests
are now just as sensitive as the Lab urine tests. Most physicians
will not order a urine pregnancy test from the Lab any more. |
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| BLOOD
PREGNANCY TESTS: |
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A Qualitative hCG test
measures the presence or absence of the hormone in the blood serum,
the liquid part of the blood. Tests are usually sensitive (can detect
the presence of something) to 5 milli-units of hCG. This is an extremely
small amount of hormone. |
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A quantitative pregnancy
test gives the AMOUNT of hCG present in the blood. Usually your care
giver will order this test if she is going to get several tests over a
specific period of time. There are several reasons to do this:
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To see if the pregnancy is
someplace other than the uterus (ectopic)
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If you have had bleeding, to
see if the pregnancy is progressing properly
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If you have had bleeding, to
see if you are still pregnant
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
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© 1996-99: MJ
Bovo. All rights reserved under US Copyright Law.
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| Excerpts from:
The Family
Pregnancy © 1995: MJ Bovo, The Family Pregnancy, Second Edition,
currently
in production, and Do You Have Any Questions? © 1995:
MJ Bovo, are contained within this page. Reprints are not permitted under
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