So you think you understand pregnancy tests?

A/Prof Ken Sikaris

writer

A/Prof Ken Sikaris

Principal Fellow of the Department of Pathology at Melbourne University, and Director of Clinical Support Services for Sonic Healthcare

A/Prof Ken Sikaris

Less than 40 years ago pregnancy was typically diagnosed by history and examination alone. While clinical skills always remain useful, there have been major advances in pregnancy testing that have been both clinically and medicolegally important. Like all diagnostic testing, pregnancy tests are not infallible, and it is very helpful for clinicians to understand their strengths and weaknesses.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is redundantly called ‘human’ but appropriately named as the gonadotrophic hormone produced by the invading chorionic cells during implantation of the fertilised ovum. Like the pituitary gonadotropins, FSH and LH, hCG is made up of an identical alpha subunit but different beta subunits. Therefore old designation of ‘beta’ hCG, while just as redundant as ‘human’, is still commonly used, although in laboratory speak it could refer to the intact beta subunit rather than the beta subunit fragments that can appear after degradation, particularly in the urine.

PASSWORD RESET

Forgot your password or password not working? Please enter your email address. You will receive an email with the link to set a new password.

Icon 2

NEXT LIVE Webcast

:
Days
:
Hours
:
Minutes
Seconds
Dr Sushil Pant

Dr Sushil Pant

Acutely Painful Shoulder – Assessment and Management in GP

Dr Richard Phoon

Dr Richard Phoon

Chronic Kidney Disease – Delay Progression and Prevent Dialysis

Prof Rodney Baber AM

Prof Rodney Baber AM

Understand & Explain the Risks & Side Effects of MHT

Prof Peter Richmond

Prof Peter Richmond

Invasive Pneumococcal Disease – What GPs Need to Know

Join us for the next free webcast for GPs and healthcare professionals

High quality lectures delivered by leading independent experts

Share this

Share this

A/Prof Ken Sikaris

writer

A/Prof Ken Sikaris

Principal Fellow of the Department of Pathology at Melbourne University, and Director of Clinical Support Services for Sonic Healthcare

Test your knowledge

Recent articles

Latest GP poll

With regard to child & adolescent mental health issues you encounter in your practice, to what extent do you think overuse of digital devices and social media is a contributing factor?

A major contributor

0%

A moderate contributor

0%

A minor contributor

0%

Not a contributor

0%

Find your area of interest

Once you confirm you’ve read this article you can complete a Patient Case Review to earn 0.5 hours CPD in the Reviewing Performance (RP) category.

Select ‘Confirm & learn‘ when you have read this article in its entirety and you will be taken to begin your Patient Case Review.

Upcoming Healthed Webcast

Tuesday 14th October, 7pm - 9pm AEDT

Speaker

Dr Richard Phoon

Nephrologist; Senior Medical Advisor, Westmead Hospital

We invite you to our next free webcast, where Dr Richard Phoon will present on chronic kidney disease. Up to 4 hours CPD. RACGP & ACRRM accredited.