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Test Code LAB144 Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG), Qualitative, Blood

Performing Laboratory

St. Louis Children's Hospital Laboratory - Chemistry

Specimen Requirements

Patient Preparation: None

   NOTE: this test is for specimen samples on females only. Specimens for males will not be analyzed by this method. See "Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG), Quantitative Serum" if hCG level required for male patient. 

Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Gold SST gel tube

Acceptable: Plain red-top tube 

Submission Container/Tube: If specimen is coming from outside facility and collected in a plain red-top tube or EDTA tube aliquot processed sample into a plastic vial for transport (labeling with specimen type).

Specimen Collection Volume: 2.0 mL (minimum 0.5 mL)

Special Instructions: Send to lab promptly.

 

Sample Rejection

Mislabled or unlabeled specimens

Specimens that are grossly hemolyzed

Specimens submitted on male patients

Logistics

Test Availability: Monday-Sunday

Cut-off time: None; performed as received

Turnaround Time: Same Day; 30 minutes from receipt in lab

Reference Values

Reference Interval: Reported as Positive or Negative

Critical Value: None established

 

Methodology

Rapid solid-phase, Chromatographic immunoassay

Limitations

  • False negative results may occur when the levels of hCG are below the sensitivity level of the test. When pregnancy is still suspected, a first morning specimen should be collected 48 hours later and retested.

  • As with any assay employing mouse antibodies, the possibility exists for interference by human anti-mouse antibodies (HAMA) in the specimen. Specimens from patients who have received preparations of monoclonal antibodies for diagnosis or therapy may contain HAMA. Such specimens may cause false positive or false negative results.

Additional Information

FOR SLCH CORE LABORATORY USE ONLY

Lab Processing Instructions: Centrifuge to separate. If specimen is collected in a plain red-top tube aliquot sample into screw-cap, plastic vial for testing (labeling aliquot with specimen type).

Processed Volume: minimum 0.2 mL serum 

Analyte Stability: 

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Whole Blood (unprocessed)  Ambient 1 hours
Plasma/Serum (processed) Refrigerated (preferred)     2 days    
  Ambient 1 hours
  Frozen  1 year     

Test Classification and CPT Code

84703

LOINC

2118-8

Last Reviewed

08/2025