Early and accurate diagnosis of pregnancy is important in order to determine the estimated date of delivery and to allow the pregnant woman to make decisions regarding her reproductive care. There are several different ways to diagnose intrauterine pregnancy including increased blood or urine levels of the pregnancy hormone beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG), ultrasound visualization of an embryo in the uterus, and the presence of audible fetal heart tones.
Within 12 days after conception, the placenta, a collection of fetal and maternal cells, begins to form and secrete the hormone beta-hCG. The levels of beta-hCG double every 2–3 days and are detectable in both blood and urine. Concentrations of this hormone vary depending on the individual and the stage of pregnancy.
Home pregnancy tests use monoclonal antibodies to detect the presence of beta-hCG in the urine. Some tests are able to detect very low levels of this hormone (approximately ten millionths of an International...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Suggested Reading
Johnson, R. V. (Ed.). (1994). Mayo Clinic complete book of pregnancy and baby’s first year. New York: William Morrow.
When the test really counts. Part one: Earliest pregnancy detection. (2003, February). Consumer Reports, 45–47.
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2004 Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers
About this entry
Cite this entry
Frey, K.A. (2004). Pregnancy Testing. In: Encyclopedia of Women’s Health. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-306-48113-0_353
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-306-48113-0_353
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-306-48073-7
Online ISBN: 978-0-306-48113-0
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive