BIOCHEMICAL TEST

Introduction:

Pregnancy tests are based on the detection of the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is produced by the placenta shortly after fertilization
and reaches detectable levels in urine and serum about 1 week after implantation attachment
of the early embryo to the uterine lining.

Levels of hCG continue to rise during the first trimester of pregnancy, making it an excellent
marker for pregnancy.

Specimens :
Pregnancy tests can be done by either in urine or in blood samples.
Both tests detect the presence of a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).

Urine Tests :
 Urine specimen must be collected without preservatives in a clean dry container. First
morning urine usually contains the highest concentration of hCG, however, urine
collected at any time during the day may be used.
 If the sample put the collection container into the refrigerator (fridge), the sample will
be rejected. fridge urine leads to less accurate results because stone forming salts
become crystallized (from the cold) and thus the results are less viable.
Blood Tests:
 A quantitative blood test measures the exact amount of Beta hCG in the blood by
Electro Chemiluminescence (ECL)-based immunoassays.
 A qualitative hCG blood test gives a simple
positive or negative result to whether pregnant or not (By stripes & cassettes).

Laboratory diagnosis of Pregnancy test:

 Methods Time Consuming Serology level 1 Pregnancy Test Reagent by inhibition
agglutination (old method).
 2 min 2 Pregnancy Test Strip or Cassette by Immunochromatography assay.
 10 min 3 Pregnancy Test by Digital Midstream Device.
 3 min 4 beta-hCG Test by Electro chemiluminescence (ECL) technology .
 40 min 5 beta-hCG Test by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). 45
minutes – 2 hours

Pregnancy Test by Strips or Cassette

It is a rapid chromatographic immunoassay for the qualitative
detection of human chorionic gonadotropin in urine or serum to aid in
the early detection of pregnancy.
 These pregnancy tests are specifically designed for professional users (doctors, clinic
family planning centres) for determination of early
pregnancy, but have also found a place in home pregnancy
testing applications due to ease of use and low cost.
 The specificity is 98% meaning that test is highly selective for hCG glycoprotein.
Principle:
 The test uses two lines to indicate results; this test is conductive by immersing the
test strip in a urine or serum specimen and observing the formation of coloured lines.
 The specimen migrates via capillary action along the
membrane to react with the colored conjugate.
 Positive specimens reacts with the specific antibody –hCG
colored conjugate to form a colored line at the test line
region of the membrane. Absence of this colored line suggests a negative result.

Procedure:
1. Bring the pouch of container to room temperature before opening it. Remove the test
strip from the sealed pouch or closed container and use it as soon as possible.
2. With arrows pointing toward the urine or serum specimen. Immerse the test strip
vertically in the urine or serum specimen. Do not pass the maximum line on the test
strip.
3. Place the test strip on a non-absorbent flat surface, start the timer and wait for the
colored line (s) to appear. 4Read the result after 3 minutes when testing a urine
specimen and 5 minutes when testing a serum specimen.

Pregnancy Test by Midstream Device.

 Is commonly used for home pregnancy testing. You can apply the pregnancy
midstream directly into the urine stream so there is no need for urine collection.
 The accuracy of the pregnancy test is 99,6%.
 Built in quality control.
 Very high sensitivity .
  Rapid. clearblueeasy.com

The Advantages Of Using A Blood Test Done Are:

 Can detect a pregnancy earlier than a urine test at about 3-10 days from possible
conception (but if a negative result is received, a test should be repeated if a period is
missed.)
 Can measure the concentration of hCG hormone in your blood (this is useful
information for your healthcare provider in tracking certain problems in pregnancy).

The Disadvantages of using a blood test done are:

 More expensive than a urine test.
 Takes longer to get result.
 Must be done in a clinical laboratory.