The truth about blood pregnancy test
When people hear about a pregnancy test, the first image that pops up in their heads is a home test kit or taking a sample of early morning urine to the doctor for a test. It might interest you that there is another way to get a pregnancy test, which involves a blood sample.
Here, we will be informing you about a pregnancy blood test and all you should know about it.
What is a pregnancy blood test, and how does it work?
The home pregnancy test kit checks for the presence of HCG in the urine. It is usually detected in higher quantities in the first urine of the day. The pregnancy blood test kit does the same thing, only that it checks for the presence of HCG in the blood instead of the urine. The HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) is a hormone that is released when there is a foetus in the uterus. The presence of HCG signifies a positive pregnancy test. The placenta, which is an organ that oversees the nourishment of the baby in the uterus, is responsible for releasing HCG.
In the early months of pregnancy, the levels of HCG in the body are huge, and it doubles after two days. After the first three months of your pregnancy, the levels of HCG will reduce a little, after which it will stabilise until the time for delivery.
Are there more blood tests that can confirm pregnancy?
There are two blood tests that doctors can use to confirm pregnancy. These blood tests include
- Quantitative pregnancy blood test
- Qualitative pregnancy blood test
Quantitative pregnancy blood test
This blood test is also referred to as beta HCG, and it measures the precise amount of HCG in the blood. Besides confirming a pregnancy, it equally provides the doctor with the information they need about the pregnancy. This means your due date can be calculated with this information, as well as any complications that may arise during the pregnancy.
Qualitative pregnancy blood test
This type of blood test is basic and is almost the same as a urine pregnancy test. The only thing it does is to detect the presence of HCG, nothing more. Basically, it tells you if you are pregnant or not.
How early can pregnancy be detected with a blood test?
When it comes to pregnancy tests, blood tests are more accurate because they are more efficient at detecting HCG than urine tests. This means that a pregnancy blood test can be carried out anytime, no matter how early the pregnancy might be. A pregnancy blood test can detect the presence of HCG as early as 6-8 days after conception, while the urine test does not detect HCG anytime earlier than ten days.
Is pregnancy blood test accurate?
Although no test is correct or accurate all the time, the accuracy of quantitative and qualitative blood tests is over 99%. In some cases, a pregnancy blood test can give you a negative result even if you are pregnant. This usually happens when the test is taken way too early and is because of the very low and undetectable levels of HCG. However, if you take the test a few days later, you will get a more accurate result.
A false-positive result is also possible, but it is usually a very rare occurrence, as it can be attributed to medications containing HCG or illnesses that increase the levels of HCG in the body.
Why should you get a blood test?
A blood test may be needed to confirm pregnancy, especially if you have had a positive urine test.
Other times, your doctor may recommend a quantitative test to find out more about the levels of HCG in your body. This will help them detect any complications that may come up during pregnancy. For instance, if you have a higher-than-normal HCG level, it could mean you are expecting multiple babies. On the other hand, lower-than-normal HCG levels could mean you might be having a miscarriage.
Not all cases of higher-than-normal HCG levels or lower-than-normal HCG levels are a problem. You can still have a normal pregnancy after all.
Is it possible to get a blood test at home?
Unlike a urine test, a blood test for pregnancy cannot be taken at home. You will have to go to the hospital or see your doctor for a private blood test.
The test involves the insertion of a needle into the vein of your arm and the extraction of a blood sample that will be sent to the lab for testing.
How long does it take for a blood test to be completed?
The actual collection of blood samples only takes a couple of minutes. If you have any worries or are anxious about needles, be sure to inform your doctor beforehand.
From the testing of the blood sample to the results can take a few days. However, when the results are ready, your doctor will let you know. If the results are positive, or if the levels of your HCG are normal, then you will not have to worry about anything else.
If you would like to book a private doctor appointment for a blood test, get in touch with us at London GP clinic.