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To: streetpreacher
The test would have been for hCG.

A triple marker pregnancy blood test screens for levels of AFP, hcG and estriol.

The quad screen blood test includes a check on levels of AFP, hcG and estriol and then adds a screen for Inhibin.

From American Pregnancy.org:



Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG): The Pregnancy Hormone

The hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (better known as hCG) is produced during pregnancy. It is made by cells that form the placenta, which nourishes the egg after it has been fertilized and becomes attached to the uterine wall. hCG can first be detected by a normal blood test about 11 days after conception and about 12 - 14 days by a urine test. In general the hCG level will double every 72 hours. The levels will reach their peak in the 8 - 11 weeks of pregnancy (the third month) and then will decline and level off for the remainder of the pregnancy.

Key things to remember about hCG levels:

Guideline to hCG levels during pregnancy:

hCG levels in weeks from LMP (gestational age)* :

* These numbers are just a GUIDELINE-- every woman’s level of hCG can rise differently. It is not necessarily the level that matters but rather the change in the level.

What can a low hCG level mean?

A low hCG level can mean any number of things and should be re-tested within 48-72 hours to see how the level is changing. A low hCG level could indicate:

What can a high hCG level mean?

A high level of hCG can also mean a number of things and should be re-tested within 48-72 hours to evaluate changes in the level. A high hCG level can indicate:

Should my hCG level be checked routinely?

It is not common for doctors to normally re-check your hCG levels unless you are showing signs of a possible problem. A health care provider may re-check your levels if you are bleeding, having severe cramping or have a history of miscarriage.

What can I expect of my hCG levels after a pregnancy loss?

Most women can expect their levels to return to a non-pregnant range about 4 - 6 weeks after a pregnancy loss has occurred. This can differentiate by how the loss occurred (spontaneous miscarriage, D & C procedure, abortion, natural delivery) and how high the levels were at the time of the loss. Health care providers usually will continue to test hCG levels after a pregnancy loss to ensure they return back to <5.0

Can anything interfere with my hCG levels?

Nothing should interfere with an hCG level except medications that contain hCG. These medications are often used in fertility treatments, and your health care provider should advise you on how they may affect a test. All other medications such as antibiotics, pain relievers, contraception or other hormone medications should not have any effect on a test that measures hCG.

Last Updated: 11/2005
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG): The Pregnancy Hormone

12 posted on 12/11/2006 3:06:25 PM PST by bd476
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To: bd476

That just sounds like a test of her hCG levels which really doesn't tell us anything does it?


14 posted on 12/11/2006 3:14:20 PM PST by streetpreacher (RUDY/ROMNEY 2008: Supporting Marriage between a man and a woman, then a woman, then a woman...)
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