bHCG, is a hormone for the maternal recognition of pregnancy, produced by trophoblast cells that surround the growing embryo. It forms the placenta after the infection. The hormone stimulates corpus luteum (a dynamic endocrine gland within the ovary) to produce progesterone in order to maintain the pregnancy. Smaller amounts of bHCG are also produced in the pitutiary gland, liver and colon. The level of the hormone starts to increase in 6-12 days after the conception. It increases until approximately 13-16 weeks and declines until delivery.
Interpretation:bHCG is the pregnancy hormone which is not present in normal condutions. However, it may be unexpectedly high, even in pregnancies. It may reflect abnormal condutions like fetus with Down Syndrome, twin pregnancies, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy. bHCG may be high in some condutions other than pregnancy. When the above condutions are evaluated and the patient is not pregnant, other clinical causes may be encountered. These might be some gastric cancers, gastritis, cancers of pancreas, liver tumors, ovarian and testicular cancers, trophoblastic tumors, gonadal tumors. Some nutrients may also be responsible for little elevations. These are tomatoes, walnut, spinach, avocado, sunflover seed and dill.
Sample: Arm Vein blood. Nonfasting
Working day: Everyday
Result Time: The same day after 2 hours