Is a repetitive beta hCG test or a urine test required to obtain conclusive result about pregnancy?
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
I have a critical question that needs clarification and I need your sincere professional opinion. I had unprotected sex with my girlfriend in the last week of last month and in the first week of this month. 12 days after the intercourse, she took a beta hCG blood test. The quantitative test results were less than 2 ml and she tested negative. I am planning to make her take another test in the last week of this month which would be roughly 27 or 28 days after the incident and 15 days after the previous blood test.
My question is can she take a urine home pregnancy test as a conclusive test to obtain definite results? Should she repeat the same beta hCG quantitative blood test? I have read mixed articles that confused me about the level of hCG in blood and urine. By tomorrow or the day after, it will be 27 or 28 days past the incident or almost a month. From the articles that I read, it is mentioned that the urine test should be able to detect pregnancy after 21 days of sex. Please note that she does not know her cycle, her period date, and the days of conception. Kindly help.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I am here to help you get the best medical advice.
By books, the dictum is that a home urine pregnancy test kit is 99 % sensitive only after eight days of missed period. However, false positive results can be seen before missed periods. In your case, if you wish to get the test done on the 27th or 28th day, then I suggest you take the serum beta hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) quantitative test again for a conclusive result.
I hope you had a pleasant experience at icliniq.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
Neither she nor I know her period cycle but she has been bleeding irregularly for the past five months due to side effects of Depo injection wearing off shot. It has been almost 28 days, and she tells me that if the urine test is negative, she will be fine as she is afraid of blood withdrawal.
As per my understanding, a urine test can be taken 14 days after unprotected sex if she does not know her cycle but for definitive results, should it be repeated on the 21st day after intercourse or more? By tomorrow, it will be 27 days. Do you still recommend a beta hCG test or can she take a urine test at home by tomorrow?
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
Glad to have you back.
A urine pregnancy test would show a positive result if the beta hCG levels are produced as a result of ongoing pregnancy if it is more than 1500 mIU, but with a beta hCG test, levels as low as 5 mIU can be detected. Hence, beta hCG is preferable anytime over a urine pregnancy test.
I hope this helps.
Thank you.
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