Blood Drug Testing

What are the two different types of pregnancy blood tests?

I know there's one that tells you if you are or not pregnant and one that gives you your hcg levels. Which is which? I am 12 days late on my period and I keep getting negative hpts. I've decided to take a blood test but don't know which to ask for. I don't have a doctor, I'm planning on just going to the hospital or clinic to get it done. Can someone help me and give me advice of some sort! Please and thank you!

Public Comments

1. Qualitative = yes/no test Quantative = HCG level test
2. The lab at the hospital will not perform a serum (blood) pregnancy test without an order/prescription for one from a hospital. Knowing that ahead of time might save you some time. I know there <IS> one of those stand alone doctor's care centers (that you can walk in) in my area that will do them but you do have to see the doctor prior to getting it so you might as well go ahead and find a doctor that you want to provide your prenatal care if you are pregnant. The tests you are referring to are a qualitive test-it gives a yes/no answer and a quantitive test-it gives you the actual HCG level. Most labs have a cutoff for the qualitive test at 20 miU/mL, similar to most home pregnancy tests. The quantitive test can determine pregnancy because a nonpregnant woman will usually have <1 miU/mL of HCG present in her system. These tests are usually done to see if a pregnancy is viable, as two are done 48 hours apart to see if the numbers are rising as expected in a healthy pregnancy. If you just want to know if you are pregnant, the doctor will most likely order a qualitive test. You do not have to specify which one-they will know what is appropriate/necessary in your circumstances. However, blood tests are no more accurate than home tests. At this point, you are either not pregnant or not as far along as you think you are (ovulated late, etc.) so the test is not picking up yet. I hope this helps, and wish you the best.
3. You would want to ask for the QUANTITATIVE Beta hCG blood test (yes, correctly spelled and pronounced as quanTITATive). This test will count the actual number of hCG molecules in your blood. The result will be a specific number indicating the count detected. This may require you returning for a follow blood draw to determine if the inital count is rising, as is expected in pregnancy. However, in most cases, a count of 5 or less is considered NEGATIVE, and does not typically require follow up. Instead, other assays may be ordered in order to find the cause of any other symptoms the woman may be experiencing and these may yield answers as to why the missed period, depending on which tests performed. The QUALITIVE hCG test is less detailed, less expensive and requires only one blood draw. This test simply detects the presence of hCG in your blood and does not get anymore specific then your average urine pregnancy test. There is known to be a larger margin for error in the results of this test due to the likelihood of false negatives. False negatives in the realm of qualitive blood testing occur often due to the miscalculation of cycles & naturally low presence of hCG, and in rare cases, abnormally low presence of hCG levels. So if you are given your choice as to which test is ordered, defiinitely choose the quantitative beta hCG. Hope this helps and good luck