Category
Point of Care Testing
Typical Use
Detect human chorionic gonadotropin for pregnancy screening.
Description
A lateral flow immunoassay that detects human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in urine to provide a rapid qualitative result indicating pregnancy, commonly used in clinics, emergency departments, and home testing. These tests are highly sensitive when used after a missed period but can yield false negatives if performed too early or false positives in rare conditions such as certain tumors or recent pregnancy loss. Positive rapid tests are typically followed by quantitative serum hCG measurement and clinical evaluation to confirm pregnancy viability and gestational age. Proper specimen collection, adherence to timing instructions, and awareness of test limitations are important for accurate interpretation and counseling.