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Operational Medicine 2001
Quantitative HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin)

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HCG is a hormone, produced by placental tissue. 
  • Shortly after implantation of a fertilized ovum in the uterine lining, HCG begins to be produced.
  • Levels of HCG approximately double every 2-3 days in a normal pregnancy.
  • By the time of the first missed menstrual period, pregnancy tests are usually positive (with a sensitivity of 30-35 mIU/ml).

Quantitative HCG measurements can be useful in evaluating threatened abortions.

  • Doubling every 2-3 days is reassuring.
  • More slowly rising levels are equivocal.
  • Plateau levels or falling levels are non-reassuring.

They may also be useful in evaluating possible ectopic pregnancy.

  • With > 1500 units of HCG, a normal intrauterine pregnancy is usually seen with transvaginal ultrasound.
  • This threshold, also known as the "discriminatory zone" may range from 1,000 to 2,000 units of HCG, depending on the lab, the ultrasound equipment and the sonographer's experience.

Elevations caused by:

  • Pregnancy
  • Gestational Trophoblastic Disease

Decreases caused by:

  • Miscarriage (spontaneous or induced)
  • Following obstetrical delivery
  • With resolution of an ectopic pregnancy
  • Following effective treatment of gestational trophoblastic disease

Normal Values:

  mIU/ml
Women Negative

Pregnancy

 Positive

More information on Pregnancy Tests

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The listing of any non-Federal product in this CD is not an endorsement of the product itself, but simply an acknowledgement of the source. 

Operational Medicine 2001

Health Care in Military Settings

Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
Department of the Navy
2300 E Street NW
Washington, D.C
20372-5300

Operational Medicine
 Health Care in Military Settings
CAPT Michael John Hughey, MC, USNR
NAVMED P-5139
  January 1, 2001

 United States Special Operations Command
7701 Tampa Point Blvd.
MacDill AFB, Florida
33621-5323

*This web version is provided by The Brookside Associates Medical Education Division.  It contains original contents from the official US Navy NAVMED P-5139, but has been reformatted for web access and includes advertising and links that were not present in the original version. This web version has not been approved by the Department of the Navy or the Department of Defense. The presence of any advertising on these pages does not constitute an endorsement of that product or service by either the US Department of Defense or the Brookside Associates. The Brookside Associates is a private organization, not affiliated with the United States Department of Defense.

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