Performed

Daily

Methodology

Electrochemiluminescent Immunoassay

Reported

Routine: 4 hours
Stat: 1 hour

Synonyms

  • Beta Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG), Quantitative, Blood
  • Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (Beta-HCG)
  • Human Chorionic Gonadotropins (HCG)
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin (CG)
  • Gonadotropins, Chorionic
  • HCG Total OB
  • Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Beta Subunit (HCGB)
  • Pregnancy Quantitative, Blood
  • Pregnancy Test, Blood
  • Early Pregnancy Detection
  • Blood Pregnancy Test
  • HCG, Quantitative, Pregnancy
  • Beta hCG, Quantitative
  • Total Beta-Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
  • Total Chorionic Gonadotropin
  • cBeta-HCG
  • BHCG QNT
  • Chemistry Laboratories

Performing Lab

Chemistry

Add-on Eligibility

No. This assay is considered to be high priority on the testing system. “Add-on” test requests cannot be added on samples whose tubes have already processed on the clinical chemistry system. A new sample must be drawn.  For urgent neonatal specimen “add-on” test requests, consult with the Section Medical Director.

Specimen Type

Blood

Specimen Preparation

Blood specimens collected in Plasma Separator Tubes (PSTs) must be centrifuged within 2 hours of the collection time for optimal sample integrity.

Specimen Volume

Adult: 6 mL (Minimum: 2 mL)

Pediatric: 0.5 mL (Minimum: 0.5 mL)
  • Microtainer must be FULL

*This refers to specimen volume at collection prior to any processing

Collection Container

Lithium Heparin Plasma Separator Tube (Light Green Top Vacutainer)

Pediatric Collection

1 Lithium Heparin Microtainer (Light Green Top Microtainer)
  • Panel tests (BMP/CMP/CBC) require a full microtainer. If additional tests are ordered, an additional microtainer is needed.  Full microtainers should be sufficient for up to 5 individual tests.

Unacceptable Conditions

  1. Lipemic or grossly hemolyzed specimens
  2. Specimens containing particulate matter or exhibiting obvious microbial contamination
  3. Specimens that have been improperly collected, stored, or transported
  • Specimens left to clot at 2 - 8°C
  • Heat-inactivated specimens
  • Specimens stabilized with azide
  • Specimens exposed to repeated freeze-thaw cycles
  1. Specimens that have not been centrifuged within 2 hours of collection
  2. Unlabeled or mislabeled specimens

Storage/Transport Temperature

Transport Instructions    
Collection Location Transport Temperature Processing Required Timeframe
ED/Inpatient Room Temperature None Specimen must be received by the lab within 2 hours of collection
Refrigerated (Ice Packs) Centrifuge to separate from cells within 2 hours of collection Specimen must be received by the lab within 14 days of collection
Laboratory/
Outpatient/
Off-Site		 Room Temperature Centrifuge to separate from cells within 2 hours of collection Specimen must be received by the lab within 5 days of collection
Refrigerated (Ice Packs) Centrifuge to separate from cells within 2 hours of collection Specimen must be received by the lab within 14 days of collection
Frozen (Dry Ice) Centrifuge to separate from cells within 2 hours of collection Specimen must be received by the lab within 12 months of collection

Storage: Refrigerated

Stability (from collection to initiation)

Stability:
Prior to separation from cells:
  • Room Temperature: 2 hours
After separation from cells:
  • Room Temperature: 5 days
  • Refrigerated: 14 days
  • Frozen at -20°C: 12 months
    • Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles

Laboratory Storage: Refrigerated
Laboratory Retention: 7 days

Collection Instructions

Labeling Instructions:
  1. When labeling blood tubes, leave a small window visible for the lab to assess the fill volume and sample integrity
  2. Ensure that the barcode is in the correct orientation

Collection Instructions:
  1. Follow the correct order of draw when collecting with additional orders and tube types:
      

Processing Instructions:
  1. Invert the collection tube according to the number of inversions in the chart above
  2. Centrifuge within 2 hours of collection

Reference Interval

Female, Non-Pregnant, Premenopausal: < 6 mIU/mL
Female, Pregnant: > 10 mIU/mL
Male: < 3 mIU/mL
Ordering

Performed

Daily

Methodology

Electrochemiluminescent Immunoassay

Reported

Routine: 4 hours
Stat: 1 hour

Synonyms

  • Beta Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG), Quantitative, Blood
  • Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (Beta-HCG)
  • Human Chorionic Gonadotropins (HCG)
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin (CG)
  • Gonadotropins, Chorionic
  • HCG Total OB
  • Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Beta Subunit (HCGB)
  • Pregnancy Quantitative, Blood
  • Pregnancy Test, Blood
  • Early Pregnancy Detection
  • Blood Pregnancy Test
  • HCG, Quantitative, Pregnancy
  • Beta hCG, Quantitative
  • Total Beta-Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
  • Total Chorionic Gonadotropin
  • cBeta-HCG
  • BHCG QNT
  • Chemistry Laboratories

Performing Lab

Chemistry

Add-on Eligibility

No. This assay is considered to be high priority on the testing system. “Add-on” test requests cannot be added on samples whose tubes have already processed on the clinical chemistry system. A new sample must be drawn.  For urgent neonatal specimen “add-on” test requests, consult with the Section Medical Director.
Collection

Specimen Type

Blood

Specimen Preparation

Blood specimens collected in Plasma Separator Tubes (PSTs) must be centrifuged within 2 hours of the collection time for optimal sample integrity.

Specimen Volume

Adult: 6 mL (Minimum: 2 mL)

Pediatric: 0.5 mL (Minimum: 0.5 mL)
  • Microtainer must be FULL

*This refers to specimen volume at collection prior to any processing

Collection Container

Lithium Heparin Plasma Separator Tube (Light Green Top Vacutainer)

Pediatric Collection

1 Lithium Heparin Microtainer (Light Green Top Microtainer)
  • Panel tests (BMP/CMP/CBC) require a full microtainer. If additional tests are ordered, an additional microtainer is needed.  Full microtainers should be sufficient for up to 5 individual tests.

Unacceptable Conditions

  1. Lipemic or grossly hemolyzed specimens
  2. Specimens containing particulate matter or exhibiting obvious microbial contamination
  3. Specimens that have been improperly collected, stored, or transported
  • Specimens left to clot at 2 - 8°C
  • Heat-inactivated specimens
  • Specimens stabilized with azide
  • Specimens exposed to repeated freeze-thaw cycles
  1. Specimens that have not been centrifuged within 2 hours of collection
  2. Unlabeled or mislabeled specimens

Storage/Transport Temperature

Transport Instructions    
Collection Location Transport Temperature Processing Required Timeframe
ED/Inpatient Room Temperature None Specimen must be received by the lab within 2 hours of collection
Refrigerated (Ice Packs) Centrifuge to separate from cells within 2 hours of collection Specimen must be received by the lab within 14 days of collection
Laboratory/
Outpatient/
Off-Site		 Room Temperature Centrifuge to separate from cells within 2 hours of collection Specimen must be received by the lab within 5 days of collection
Refrigerated (Ice Packs) Centrifuge to separate from cells within 2 hours of collection Specimen must be received by the lab within 14 days of collection
Frozen (Dry Ice) Centrifuge to separate from cells within 2 hours of collection Specimen must be received by the lab within 12 months of collection

Storage: Refrigerated

Stability (from collection to initiation)

Stability:
Prior to separation from cells:
  • Room Temperature: 2 hours
After separation from cells:
  • Room Temperature: 5 days
  • Refrigerated: 14 days
  • Frozen at -20°C: 12 months
    • Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles

Laboratory Storage: Refrigerated
Laboratory Retention: 7 days

Collection Instructions

Labeling Instructions:
  1. When labeling blood tubes, leave a small window visible for the lab to assess the fill volume and sample integrity
  2. Ensure that the barcode is in the correct orientation

Collection Instructions:
  1. Follow the correct order of draw when collecting with additional orders and tube types:
      

Processing Instructions:
  1. Invert the collection tube according to the number of inversions in the chart above
  2. Centrifuge within 2 hours of collection
Result Interpretation

Reference Interval

Female, Non-Pregnant, Premenopausal: < 6 mIU/mL
Female, Pregnant: > 10 mIU/mL
Male: < 3 mIU/mL

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