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Test Code HCGUR Urine Pregnancy Test

Important Note

A first morning urine specimen is preferred since it generally contains the highest concentration of hCG; however, urine specimen collected at any time of the day may be used.

Specimen and Container/Tube

Specimen Type: Urine, Random Collection

Preferred Specimen: Sterile Plastic Container

Other Acceptable specimens: Sterile Clean Glass Container

Specimen Stability

Storage Temperature

Stability

Room temperature

N/A

Refrigerated

48 Hours

Frozen

Stable

Collection Instructions

  • Collect specimen per standard laboratory collection procedures. 
  • No preservatives or additives.

Specimen Handling and Transport Instructions

UCMC Onsite Instructions: 

  • Collect specimen per standard collection procedure and send to laboratory immediately. 
  • No preservatives or additives.

 

UCMC Offsite and UC MedLab Outreach Instructions: 

  • Samples should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection
  • No preservatives or additives
  • Urine specimen exhibiting visible signs of precipitates should be centrifuged, filtered, or allowed to settle to obtain a clear specimen for testing.
  • Aliquot urine into plastic tube containing a minimum of 0.2 mL of specimen.
  • Urine samples must then be sent refrigerated at 2-8oC.

Rejection Criteria

  • Common specimen rejected situations include: incorrect specimen type, insufficient volume, missing or incomplete specimen identifiers, incorrect specimen transport, or specimens outside stability limits. 
  • Specimens that are collected with preservatives or additives.

Reference Values

Interpretation

Result
Negative <25 mIU/mL
Positive >25 mIU/mL

Critical Values

Not applicable 

Turnaround Time

Turnaround times are relative to the time the specimen is received in the test laboratory. 

STAT Turnaround Time: 1 hour

Routine Turnaround Time: 4 hours

Testing Schedule: 24/7

Clinical Indications

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a glycoprotein hormone that consists of 2 subunits (alpha and beta chains) that are associated to comprise the intact hormone. The alpha subunit is similar to those of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and thyrotropin (formerly thyroid-stimulating hormone). The beta subunit of hCG differs from other pituitary glycoprotein hormones, which results in its unique biochemical and immunological properties. This method quantitates the sum of intact hCG plus the beta subunit.

 

hCG is produced in the placenta during pregnancy. In nonpregnant individuals, it can also be produced by tumors of the trophoblast, germ cell tumors with trophoblastic components, and some nontrophoblastic tumors. The biological action of hCG serves to maintain the corpus luteum during pregnancy. It also influences steroid production. The serum in pregnant individuals contains mainly intact hCG. Measurement of the hCG concentration permits the diagnosis of pregnancy as early as 1 week after conception.

Test Components

  • For medical purposes only. 
  • Qualitative screening for hCG in urine

CPT Codes

81025

Methodology

Rapid chromatographic immunoassy

Synonyms/Keyword Search

Beta-HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin), CG (Chorionic Gonadotropin), HCG Total OB, HCGB (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Beta Subunit), Pregnancy Test, Total Chorionic Gonadotropin, Human Chorionic Gonadotropins (hCG), HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropins), Gonadotropins, Chorionic

Last Review Date

4/4/2025

Volume

Preferred Volume: 500 μL

Minimum Volume: 250 μL