Free Beta HCG Test

The Free Beta hCG Test means that you are being tested for determining the amount of the Free Beta-hCG hormone present in the body.

hCG or Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is a hormone that is made by the placenta in women during their pregnancy period. The placenta is an important entity that nourishes the fertilised egg throughout the pregnancy and makes sure that the foetus grows properly.

When a woman conceives, the amount of hCG hormone in her body begins increasing after about 11 days from conception. The Free Beta hCG Test should be conducted after the 11 days only so as to give an accurate test result.

Doctors make pregnant women undergo the Free Beta hCG Test as a part of their prenatal screening. The test serves more than one purpose and becomes helpful for pregnant women by detecting - Signs of a potential miscarriage, signs of Down Syndrome in the foetus, signs of an Ectopic Pregnancy (a problematic form of pregnancy where the fertilised egg attaches to outside the uterus, and this can result in a miscarriage which may cause life-threatening condition).

In India, the rate of miscarriage is higher than the rate globally. This has appeared to make Indian women more prone to miscarriages. So, taking every possible step to ensure the good health of the baby and the mother becomes of utmost importance. This involves going for a proper prenatal screening which includes the Free Beta hCG Test.

Down syndrome in foetus, Ectopic pregnancy, Testicular cancer, Diagnose a miscarriage, Detect normal pregnancy

To Detect Gestational Trophoblastic Disease (GTD) or Germ Cell Tumour

Both men and women develop a high amount of hCG hormone in their bodies in case of a germ cell tumour or a Gestational Trophoblastic Disease (GTD) like ovarian cancer, testicular cancer, etc. So, doctors use the Free Beta hCG Test to measure the amount of hCG in patients when they detect them of having any serious health concern like tumour in which the hCG count rises.

Following are the cases where the Free Beta hCG Test is very useful:

Prenatal Screening In Pregnant Women

An entire range of tests is usually performed as a part of the prenatal screening during pregnancy which helps in determining the possible risks in the pregnancy. The Free Beta hCG Test is also a part of this range of tests.

On the basis of the Free Beta hCG Test results, healthcare practitioners can make out for any signs of a possible miscarriage, signs of an ectopic pregnancy, and the signs of Down syndrome in the foetus.

Before Going for a Treatment That Can Harm a Developing Baby

Many women don’t become aware of their pregnancy till the Free Beta hCG Test is done. So, to avoid any harm from being caused to a foetus in case the mother is still not aware of her being pregnant, doctors prefer to perform the Free Beta hCG Test to detect pregnancy. This is because the treatment can possibly involve radiation and cause harm to the developing baby.

The Free Beta hCG Test can thus be prescribed to any gender and any age group.

Your doctor will prescribe you the Free Beta hCG Test only when you are in a condition where monitoring your hCG levels is required. These conditions are detection of pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, screening of Down syndrome, detection of a potential miscarriage, risk of some cancers (like ovarian, testicular), etc.

Before the Test

Prior to the Free Beta HCG examination, your doctor won't prescribe specific preparation instructions. However, if there's another test will be done simultaneously that requires fasting, your doctor will let you know. Speak with your doctor before any test.

During the Test

During theFree Beta HCG test, a trained phlebotomist will collect a blood sample from your arm. The process involves several steps:

• The area for needle insertion will be sterilised thoroughly with antiseptic solutions.
• A tourniquet will be tied tightly around your arm to make the veins stand out.
• A needle will be guided into a chosen vein to extract blood, potentially causing a brief pinch but it’ll last for a few seconds.
• The collected blood will be transferred to a vial or small tube, labeled with your personal information.

After the Test

Immediately after the blood collection you can expect the following:

•  A bandage will be applied to the site of the needle insertion to prevent bleeding.
•  Bruising at the site of the needle insertion is quite common. But if you feel lightheaded, it's advisable to rest for a while.
•  If the bleeding continues, or the discomfort, or adverse skin reactions at the needle insertion site appear, it's important to contact your doctor for further guidance.

The Free Beta hCG Test is performed to detect the current levels of the Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) hormone in the body. The test is useful in determining any possible pregnancy associated issues. The following Free Beta hCG Test parameters should be kept in mind when going for the Free Beta hCG Test:

Gender: All women and men have some amount of hCG in their bodies at all times. However, a spike in the level of hCG in women happens during pregnancy in the initial months especially. For men, a spike in hCG can be related to some conditions like classic seminoma with syncytiotrophoblastic-like giant cells, combined germ cell tumour, and choriocarcinoma.

When women become pregnant, their hCG level rises rapidly up till the 12th week of pregnancy. Here is what the average range of hCG can look like for pregnant women:

Depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy, you can refer to the above ranges as what is associated with a normal and healthy pregnancy. If there are deviations from this range, then your doctor can evaluate with a few more additional tests.

For men, the following table gives the normal range of hCG levels:

The normal values and reference ranges of the test may vary from lab to lab. Please refer to the ranges mentioned in the report and consult a doctor to understand the interpretation of lab reports.

If the Free Beta hCG Test results for men are greater than 2mIU/mL, then your doctor may suggest you go for further diagnostic tests.

Here is a table that you can refer to interpret your Free Beta hCG Test results for women :