Plasma

Plasma Separator Tube 4.5 mL

Call laboratory for additional acceptable specimen collection containers.

3 mL whole blood from light green top tube or TWO Microtainer^® devices

24 hrs/day, 7 days a week, including holidays.

1 hour (upon receipt in laboratory)

Non-Pregnant Females:  < 3 mIU/mL
Males:                 < 2 mIU/mL
Healthy non-pregnant peri-menopausal and post-menopausal females may 
have HCG concentrations up to 8 mIU/mL

Weeks of   |        |      HCG mIU/mL
gestation  |   N    |  Median  |  5th-95th percentile
    3      |  25    |    17.5  |       6  -       71
    4      |  43    |     141  |      10  -      750
    5      |  23    |   1,398  |     217  -    7,138
    6      |  19    |   3,339  |     158  -   31,795
    7      |  13    |  39,759  |   3,697  -  163,563
    8      |  23    |  90,084  |  32,065  -  149,571
    9      |  23    | 106,257  |  63,803  -  151,410
   10      |  20    |  85,172  |  46,509  -  186,977
   12      |  17    |  66,676  |  27,832  -  210,612
   14      |  67    |  34,440  |  13,950  -   62,530
   15      | 666    |  28,962  |  12,039  -   70,971
   16      | 766    |  23,930  |   9,040  -   56,451
   17      | 190    |  20,860  |   8,175  -   55,868
   18      |  64    |  19,817  |   8,009  -   58,176

This assay recognizes the intact HCG "holo-hormone" produced in pregnancy as well as other forms of HCG (e.g., "nicked" HCG) that may be found in other conditions such as tumors of germ cells, ovaries, bladder, pancreas, stomach, lungs, and liver.

Heterophile antibodies present in the serum of some patients may cause a false positive result in this immunoassay. Before making the diagnosis of pregnancy or malignancy based on an unexpectedly elevated serum HCG, confirm with a urine HCG and/or contact the laboratory for assistance in ruling out interference.  Results should always be assessed in conjunction with the patient's medical history, clinical examination, and other findings.

Please print, complete and submit the Advance 
Beneficiary Notice (ABN) along with the Laboratory Requisition 
before shipping the specimen.

Hemolysis: No significant interference up to an H index of 1000 (approximate hemoglobin concentration: 1000 mg/dL).

Lipemia: No significant interference up to an L index of 2000 (approximate triglycerides concentration: 4000 mg/dL). Note there is poor correlation between turbidity and triglyceride concentration.

Icterus: No significant interference up to an I index of 66 (approximate conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin concentration: 66 mg/dL).

No interference was observed from rheumatoid factor up to 1200 IU/mL.

No high-dose effect was observed at HCG concentrations up to 750,000 mIU/mL.

Results from this assay may be falsely decreased in patients taking high-dose biotin (>5 mg) within 12 hours of specimen collection.

Electrochemiluminescence Immunoassay

Centrifuge at a speed and time necessary to get barrier separation of plasma/serum and cells within 1 hour of collection. Send specimen in original tube. Do Not transfer to another tube.
Each sample must be labeled with at least TWO full patient identifiers (First/Last Name & DOB are sufficient for non-UIHC affiliated clients) to avoid sample rejection/delays.

Refrigerate.
All sample storage requirements are intended for delivery to UIHC within 24 hours of collection for testing. If samples won't arrive in this time period, please call the UIHC Core Lab for alternative storage/shipping instructions (319-356-3527).

Place labeled specimen into zip-lock type biohazard bag; seal bag.
Place completed requisition into outside pocket of bag.
Transport in cooler with refrigerated coolant packs.

See Additional Information:
Biotin Interference with Immunoassays