hCG, Total, Quantitative

hCG is a hormone made by the placenta during pregnancy and can be measured in the blood to confirm pregnancy and check how it is progressing. In early pregnancy, the level normally rises quickly every couple of days, and doctors use serial measurements to make sure the pregnancy is developing as expected. Very high levels can sometimes indicate a multiple pregnancy or, rarely, certain medical conditions that require further evaluation. Low or falling levels in a known pregnancy may prompt additional testing to assess the health of the pregnancy. This test is also used to monitor certain types of tumors that produce hCG.

When elevated: Elevated hCG may indicate normal intrauterine pregnancy, multiple gestation, gestational trophoblastic disease (molar pregnancy, choriocarcinoma), germ cell tumors (testicular or ovarian), or, rarely, ectopic hCG production by non-trophoblastic malignancies. Disproportionately high levels relative to gestational age warrant further evaluation. When low: Low or declining hCG levels in a known pregnancy may suggest impending spontaneous abortion, ectopic pregnancy, or fetal demise. Levels below the expected discriminatory zone in the context of a positive pregnancy test require correlation with ultrasound findings and clinical assessment.

hCG is not directly relevant to athletic performance, training, or recovery in non-pregnant individuals. This test is primarily a clinical marker for pregnancy confirmation, pregnancy viability monitoring, or tumor surveillance—categories outside routine athlete health screening.