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Quantitative vs qualitative pregnancy tests
Quantitative Pregnancy Test
A quantitative blood pregnancy test is a pregnancy test that measures the amount of hCG, the pregnancy hormone, present in your blood. During the first trimester of your pregnancy your hCG levels should rise rapidly, doubling every 2-3 days. For this reason doctors often use quantitative blood pregnancy tests to monitor the first trimester of your pregnancy. If your hCG levels are not rising as they should it can be an indication of an ectopic pregnancy or a miscarriage. Likewise, if your hCG levels are through the roof, it could mean that you are carrying multiples.
Qualitative Pregnancy Test
A qualitative blood pregnancy test is used to check for the presence of hCG in your blood. It is a more accurate method of letting you know if you are pregnant or not than a urine pregnancy test is. Most qualitative blood pregnancy tests are carried out in a doctor’s office 10-14 days after your missed period.
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