Title: Serum hCG levels measured by time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay in first-trimester pregnancy and after pregnancy termination.

POPLINE Document Number: 050665

Author(s):

Makinen J
Anttila L
Irjala K
Salmi T
Kaihola HL

Source citation:

European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 1987 Nov;26(3):219-24.

Abstract:

The ultrarapid method for determining serum hCG, time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay, was employed to measure hCG in 41 women having vacuum aspiration procedures, to validate its reliability for clinical applications. The method is a direct immunologic sandwich assay involving 2 monoclonal antibodies, 1 against hCG beta subunit, and the other, slow-decay fluorescent labeled, against the alpha subunit. Commercial kits were from Delfia (LKB-Wallac, Turku, Finland). The subjects were aged 15-43 (mean 25.3), 6-18 weeks gestation. Suspected abnormal pregnancy of those with abnormal evacuation products were excluded. Disappearance of hCG was followed in 35 women. Baseline hCG ranged from 20,800-185,000 IU/1. Mean levels declined from 106,700 IU/1 at 0800 before evacuation, to 98,500 4 hours later. Within 2 days it fell to mean 9600 IU/1. The level of 10 IU/1 was reached in 21 days on average. These results are essentially similar to levels found with standard radioimmunoassay techniques.

Keywords:

Finland
Pregnancy Tests, Immunologic
Gonadotropins, Chorionic
Abortion
Pregnancy, First Trimester
Clinical Research
Human Volunteers
Europe, Northern
Europe
Developed Countries
Pregnancy Tests
Laboratory Procedures
Laboratory Examinations and Diagnoses
Examinations and Diagnoses
Gonadotropins
Hormones
Endocrine System
Physiology
Biology
Fertility Control, Postconception
Family Planning
Pregnancy
Reproduction
Research Methodology