A pregnancy blood test detects small amounts of HCG and can determine a positive or negative pregnancy result earlier than urine tests, and sooner than a missed period. Pregnancy blood tests are approximately 99% accurate.
Blood pregnancy tests work by detecting the presence of beta hCG (the hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin, which starts being produced six days following fertilisation. Thus, they can detect a pregnancy ahead of a missed period.
hCG levels generally double every 72 hours so as well as giving a quantitative pregnancy status (positive or not), they also accurately indicate how pregnant you are.
An hCG level of less than 5 mIU/mL is considered negative and anything above 25 mIU/mL is considered positive in pregnancy. For hCG levels between 6 and 24 mIU/mL, you’ll likely need to be retested to see if your levels rise in order to confirm a pregnancy.
In addition to testing for pregnancy, HCG blood can also assist in detecting twin pregnancies, the diagnosis of abnormal pregnancies, such as ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, and possible miscarriage.
To test your blood for hCG, Bodyvie’s doctor or the phlebotomist will take a simple blood sample from one of your veins, usually in the arm, through a procedure called venipuncture. This is virtually painless (just a sharp scratch) and very quick.
Your blood will be sent to our processing lab, The Doctors Laboratory, and results returned to patients within 12-24 hours depending on when they were taken and sent off. In addition, Bodyvie offers a comprehensive range of most blood testing via its testing lab – The Doctors Laboratory.
To enquire about other tests please simply contact us via our contact form or give us a call.
