How Does A Quantitative Blood Test Work?
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Purpose
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A quantitative blood test measures human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG). HCG is a hormone usually found in women who are pregnant, because HCG levels spike during the first trimester of pregnancy. But the quantitative blood test isn't used solely for determining pregnancy--it can also detect abnormal pregnancies such as ectopic pregnancies and infants with Down syndrome, since these conditions present with precise levels of HGC. To a lesser extent, a quantitative blood test is also used to screening for other medical conditions, such as cancers of the reproductive organs (especially the ovaries and testes).
How It Is Administered
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A quantitative blood test works no differently from a normal blood test during your routine check-ups, except that it does not require you to fast. A nurse will first put an elastic band around your arm to make your blood collect in your veins and make your veins bulge. Then, the nurse will insert a needle into your arm (such as the inside of your elbow) and collect a sample of your blood. To ensure that the results of your quantitative test are uncorrupted, the nurse or doctor will also have asked you whether you are on medications or other drugs. Anticonvulsants, for instance, are one class of drugs that can increase HCG levels.
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How It Is Analyzed
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After extracting your blood, the nurse will send it to a lab in the clinic or hospital. There, a laboratory technician will see whether your HCG is elevated, which is a sure sign that you are either pregnant or suffering from a reproductive cancer. Furthermore, the exact level of HCG you have can indicate whether you have an unusual or abnormal pregnancy. For example, if your levels are highly elevated, you may be carrying twins. On the other hand, if you have lower-than-normal levels of HCG, you may have suffered a miscarriage or a stillbirth.
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