Pregnancy Test (Urine)

A pregnancy test is taken to determine whether a female is pregnant or not. This is done by assessing whether or not Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG), a hormone, is present in the woman’s urine. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is produced by the placenta, which is the organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy. It appears shortly after the implantation has occurred, that is, the embryo attached to the uterus’ wall.

HCG is detectable in the blood about 1 week of conception

The pregnancy test is prescribed: To determine whether she is pregnant, To diagnose abnormal conditions that may cause HCG levels to go up.

Less often, the pregnancy test can be used for the following purposes: To identify or rule out an ectopic pregnancy, a condition when a fertilised egg attaches or implants in an abnormal area of the female reproductive system and causes problems, To check for pregnancy before surgery or any other medical treatments, As a part of prenatal screening to check for Down’s Syndrome (a genetic condition), To monitor a pregnancy that may have high chances of a miscarriage, To help diagnose and look for pregnancy-related tumours.

Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Ectopic pregnancy, Germ cell tumour

A pregnancy test detects the presence of the HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) hormone in the urine. This hormone is produced by a woman’s placenta after fertilisation.

Urine pregnancy tests can be performed at home, though they can also be performed at the doctor’s office/ pathology lab. This test can help detect pregnancy after a week of missed periods.

This test is prescribed for a sexually active female who is suspected to be pregnant and has symptoms like

• Missed Periods
• Nausea and vomiting (this is generally referred to as morning sickness).
• Swollen and tender breasts.
• A feeling of bloating in the abdomen.
• A need to urinate frequently.

A urine pregnancy test is also taken by women who are trying to get pregnant or in cases where the birth-control methods have failed. This test is also used to rule out pregnancy before undergoing surgery or other medical procedures.

This test should be taken if there is reason to suspect you are pregnant.  This is usually when a woman has missed her period after having had sexual intercourse.

Your doctor can advise this test to evaluate other conditions like reproductive cell (germ cell) tumour, abnormal growth in uterus or placenta (trophoblastic disease)

Before the Test

The Pregnancy urine test doesn't generally require fasting. But if specific instructions given by your healthcare provider regarding food, drink, or medication restrictions pertaining to another blood test scheduled for the same time, kindly follow them. Before the test, you will be provided with a sample collection kit. Usually the first urine of the morning is collected as a sample. If the test doesn't require morning urine, you should drink water for a few hours before the test.

During the Test

If you are doing the sample collection at home, here are the steps generally involved:

• Clean your genital area thoroughly before the test to avoid contamination of the sample.
• Wash your hands and unseal the collection kit.
• Start urinating, and once you are midstream,  collect the urine in the container. Avoiding the initial and final parts of the stream are advisable.
• Securely cap the container without touching the inside.
• Wash your hands again.
• Label the collection jar with your details if not pre-labeled.

After the Test

• Store the collection jar with the sample in a cool and dry place away from sunlight which can degrade the sample.
• Hand the sample over to the healthcare professional sent by your online test provider.

This test measures the presence of the Human Chorionic Gonadotropin hormone in the urine.

The pregnancy test measures the level of the HCG hormone in the sample. The placenta secretes HCG. Once a female conceives, the placenta starts developing. The HCG hormone appears in the urine in very little time after the embryo attaches to the uterus wall.

The qualitative urine pregnancy tests are variable in sensitivity. High-sensitivity tests are more common and usually detect the HCG levels between 20-50 milli-international units/mL (mIU/mL).

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 HCG is detected in the urine of the female, it indicates pregnancy which can be confirmed with clinical correlation.

High HCG levels can also be detected in germ cell tumours (tumour of reproductive cells)

Very high HCG can be indicative of abnormal growth in the placenta

The test results should be interpreted with clinical correlation by a doctor.