MEDLINEplus Health Information: Return to home page   A service of the National Library of Medicine: Go to NLM home page
Search     Advanced Search    Site Map    About MEDLINEplus    Home
Health Topics: conditions, diseases and wellness Drug Information: generic and brand name drugs Dictionaries: spellings and definitions of medical terms Directories: doctors, dentists and hospitals Other Resources: organizations, libraries, publications, MEDLINE

Medical Encyclopedia
Disease     Injury     Nutrition     Poison     Special     Surgery     Symptoms     Tests

Blood test
 
Overview   Risks   Results   

HCG (quantitative)

Alternative names:

beta-HCG - quantitative; human chorionic gonadotrophin - quantitative; quantitative serum beta-HCG; repeat quantitative beta HCG; serial beta HCG

What the risks are:

  • excessive bleeding
  • fainting or feeling lightheaded
  • hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
  • infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)
  • multiple punctures to locate veins

Special considerations:

Drugs that can decrease HCG measurements include diuretics and promethazine.

Drugs that can increase HCG measurements include anticonvulsants, antiparkinsonian drugs, phenothiazine, and promethazine.

Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.


Adam

The information provided herein should not be used for diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Copyright 2000 adam.com, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Health Topics | Drug Information | Dictionaries | Directories | Other Resources
U.S. National Library of Medicine, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894
Copyright and Privacy Policy, We welcome your comments.