Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)
Hormone markersWhat the test generally measures, and what to ask about it.
Longetic keeps every lab and record you’ve had organized and easy to find, so your own Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) values sit together on one chart and you walk into your next appointment prepared.
What is Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)?
A hormone produced mainly during pregnancy, which can also act as a marker for certain tumors.
Human chorionic gonadotropin is made by the placenta in pregnancy, which is why pregnancy tests look for it, and a quantitative blood test can track how it rises early on. Outside of pregnancy, higher levels can be associated with certain tumors of the reproductive organs or, rarely, other cancers, so it can be used as a tumor marker in specific situations. In people who are not pregnant, levels are normally very low or undetectable, and results are always read in the context of why the test was ordered.
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References
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