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</a><h1 class="with-also" itemprop="name">HCG blood test - qualitative</h1>
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</noscript></div><div class="main"><div id="ency_summary"><p>A qualitative human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG or hCG) blood test checks if there is a hormone called <a test="test" href="./003619.htm">human chorionic gonadotropin</a> in your blood. HCG is a hormone produced in the body during pregnancy.</p><p>Other HCG tests include:</p><ul><li><a test="test" href="./003619.htm">HCG urine test</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./003510.htm">Quantitative pregnancy test</a> (checks specific level of HCG in your blood) </li></ul></div><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>How the Test is Performed</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-1" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-1"><p>A blood sample is needed. This is most often taken from a vein. The procedure is called a <a test="test" href="./003423.htm">venipuncture</a>.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>How to Prepare for the Test</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-2" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-2"><p>No special preparation is needed.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>How the Test will Feel</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-3" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-3"><p>When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Why the Test is Performed</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-4" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-4"><p>Most often, this test is performed to determine if you are pregnant. HCG level in the blood may also be high in women with certain types of ovarian tumors or in men with testicular tumors.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Normal Results</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-5" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-5"><p>The test result will be reported as negative or positive.</p><ul><li>The test is negative if you are not pregnant.</li><li>The test is positive if you are pregnant.</li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>What Abnormal Results Mean</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-6" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-6"><p>If your blood HCG is positive and you do not have a pregnancy properly implanted in the uterus, it may indicate:</p><ul><li><a test="test" href="./000895.htm">Ectopic pregnancy</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./001488.htm">Miscarriage</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./001288.htm">Testicular cancer</a> (in men)</li><li><a test="test" href="./001496.htm">Trophoblastic tumor</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./000909.htm">Hydatidiform mole</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./000889.htm">Ovarian cancer</a></li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Risks</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-7" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-7"><p>Risks of having blood drawn are slight, but may include:</p><ul><li>Excessive bleeding</li><li>Fainting or feeling lightheaded</li><li>Blood accumulating under the skin (hematoma)</li><li>Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)</li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Considerations</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-8" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-8"><p>False positive tests may occur when certain hormones are increased, such as after <a test="test" href="./000894.htm">menopause</a> or when taking hormone supplements.</p><p>A pregnancy test is considered to be very accurate. When the test is negative but pregnancy is still suspected, the test should be repeated in 1 week.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Alternative Names</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-Alt" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-Alt"><p>Beta-HCG in blood serum - qualitative; Human chorionic gonadotrophin - serum - qualitative; Pregnancy test - blood - qualitative; Serum HCG - qualitative; HCG in blood serum - qualitative</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section sec-mb"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Images</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-tnails" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/10026t.jpg" alt="Blood test" title="Blood test" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/10026.htm">Blood test</a></li>
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</ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>References</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-Ref" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-Ref"><p>Geno KA, Cervinski MA, Nerenz RD. Pregnancy and the fetus. In: Winter WE, Holmquist B, Sokoll LJ, Berthholf RL, eds. <em>Handbook of Diagnostic Endocrinology</em>. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 15.</p><p>Jeelani R, Bluth MH. Reproductive function and pregnancy. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. <em>Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods</em>. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 26.</p><p>Nerenz RD, Braga JA. Pregnancy and its disorders. In: Rifai N, Chiu RWK, Young I, Burnham Carey-Ann D, Wittwer CT, eds. <em>Tietz Textbook of Laboratory Medicine</em>. 7th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2023:chap 59.</p></div></div></section>
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<section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Review Date 11/10/2022</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-version" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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<div id="section-version" class="section-body"><p>Updated by: John D. Jacobson, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.</p>
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