Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin
Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin
About hCG: • human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone produced during pregnancy that is made by the developing placenta after conception, and later by the placental component syncytiotrophoblast. • Made by cells that form the placenta which nourishes egg after fertilization
Structure of hCG: • HCG is glycoprotein composed of 244 amino acids Alpha sub unit- identical to LH, FSH, TSH Beta sub unit- unique
Function: • HCG interacts with LHCG receptor and promotes the maintainance of corpus luteum during beginning of pregnancy which causes secrete progesterone • Because of its similarity to LH, hCG can also be used clinically to induce ovulation in the ovaries as well as testosterone production in the testes. • Human chorionic gonadotropin also plays a role in cellular differentiation/proliferation and may activate apoptosis
Production: • hCG can be extracted from urine of pregnant women or by genetic modification
Testing: • Level can be detected by Blood test: 11 days after conception Urine test: 12-14 days after conception • A single hCG reading is not enough information for most diagnoses. When there is a question regarding the health of the pregnancy, multiple testings of hCG done a couple of days apart give a more accurate assessment of the situation
Reference levels:
Guideline to hCG levels during pregnancy: hCG levels in weeks from LMP-last menstrual period (gestational age)*: • 3 weeks LMP: 5 - 50 mIU/ml • 4 weeks LMP: 5 - 426 mIU/ml • 5 weeks LMP: 18 - 7,340 mIU/ml • 6 weeks LMP: 1,080 - 56,500 mIU/ml • 7 - 8 weeks LMP: 7, 650 - 229,000 mIU/ml • 9 - 12 weeks LMP: 25,700 - 288,000 mIU/ml • 13 - 16 weeks LMP: 13,300 - 254,000 mIU/ml • 17 - 24 weeks LMP: 4,060 - 165,400 mIU/ml • 25 - 40 weeks LMP: 3,640 - 117,000 mIU/ml • Non-pregnant females: <5.0 mIU/ml • Postmenopausal
About hCG: • human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone produced during pregnancy that is made by the developing placenta after conception, and later by the placental component syncytiotrophoblast. • Made by cells that form the placenta which nourishes egg after fertilization
Structure of hCG: • HCG is glycoprotein composed of 244 amino acids Alpha sub unit- identical to LH, FSH, TSH Beta sub unit- unique
Function: • HCG interacts with LHCG receptor and promotes the maintainance of corpus luteum during beginning of pregnancy which causes secrete progesterone • Because of its similarity to LH, hCG can also be used clinically to induce ovulation in the ovaries as well as testosterone production in the testes. • Human chorionic gonadotropin also plays a role in cellular differentiation/proliferation and may activate apoptosis
Production: • hCG can be extracted from urine of pregnant women or by genetic modification
Testing: • Level can be detected by Blood test: 11 days after conception Urine test: 12-14 days after conception • A single hCG reading is not enough information for most diagnoses. When there is a question regarding the health of the pregnancy, multiple testings of hCG done a couple of days apart give a more accurate assessment of the situation
Reference levels:
Guideline to hCG levels during pregnancy: hCG levels in weeks from LMP-last menstrual period (gestational age)*: • 3 weeks LMP: 5 - 50 mIU/ml • 4 weeks LMP: 5 - 426 mIU/ml • 5 weeks LMP: 18 - 7,340 mIU/ml • 6 weeks LMP: 1,080 - 56,500 mIU/ml • 7 - 8 weeks LMP: 7, 650 - 229,000 mIU/ml • 9 - 12 weeks LMP: 25,700 - 288,000 mIU/ml • 13 - 16 weeks LMP: 13,300 - 254,000 mIU/ml • 17 - 24 weeks LMP: 4,060 - 165,400 mIU/ml • 25 - 40 weeks LMP: 3,640 - 117,000 mIU/ml • Non-pregnant females: <5.0 mIU/ml • Postmenopausal