How long does it take to get blood test results for pregnancy?

1. What is the blood test for pregnancy?

A blood test for pregnancy measures the HCG hormone present in a sample of blood for confirming pregnancy. (HCG, i.e., Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is a pregnancy hormone. The hormone nourishes the egg after it has been fertilized by the sperm cell. Hcg is presently essential to detect pregnancy). Often the doctors refer to the blood test for confirming pregnancy as well as for ascertaining the quality of pregnancy. i.e., whether the pregnancy is healthy or not) and additionally, to quantify the pregnancy path of progress.

There are two types of blood tests for detecting pregnancy and in addition to determining the progress of pregnancy:

1.1) Qualitative test:

The blood test checks to see if the HCG hormone is present in the blood. A positive test result indicates early pregnancy, and a negative result means no pregnancy.

1.2) Quantitative test:

Additionally, HCG blood serum test checks to see (even with a trace of serum) in which stage the pregnancy lies and whether the pregnancy is normal and healthy. A healthy pregnancy indicates the healthy condition of the mother throughout the pregnancy stage and additionally. The healthy birth of the baby with the least delivery complications.

2. Why HCG blood test is done for pregnancy?

2.1) Most of the doctors suggest taking an HCG blood test for pregnancy. Even after taking a urine pregnancy test, because the urine pregnancy test fails to detect pregnancy when the HCG level is shallow in the urine stream.

2.2) Additionally, an HCG blood test is considered essential to determine the approximate date of the fetus. It implies an unborn baby with more than eight weeks of pregnancy, diagnoses an abnormal pregnancy, such as ectopic pregnancy. It is a complication in pregnancy that occurs when the fertilized egg attaches somewhere outside the uterus. An untreated ectopic pregnancy can invite a medical emergency. According to the American Academy of Family physicians, an ectopic pregnancy occurs in 1 out of 50 pregnancies. And diagnose potential miscarriage, it is the loss of a fetus before the 20th week of pregnancy period. The most common symptom of miscarriage is vaginal bleeding. It is a fluid lying at the back of a fetus's neck.

During the 1st trimester period of pregnancy, the ultrasound method results in more effective and comparable detection of down syndrome. Also, an HCG blood test is sometimes used to screen for pregnancy before a woman undergoes specific medical treatments. That may potentially harm the development of the unborn baby. Examples of these treatments include X—rays. A healthcare professional can identify an HCG-positive pregnant woman that pregnant woman is protected.

3. How the blood test for pregnancy is done?

The procedure of collecting a blood sample for the pregnancy test involves the following steps:

• Human blood is generally drawn from the vein (inside the arm near the elbow).
• Before pushing the needle into the vein, the skin is sanitized using disinfected swabs.
• An elastic band tightens the arm, wrapped around the upper arm. To stop blood flow and make the veins in the arms more visible. That makes it easier for the blood sample to be taken by inserting the needle into the vein.
• After the required amount of blood is collected. The needle, as well as the elastic band, is removed from the arm. The damaged area is pressed on with a sticky patch for a few minutes to stop bleeding.
• The patient needs to stop moving & avoid showing any reluctance until the blood sample is collected, & the needle is removed. If the needle terrifies the patient, then she should ignore and overlook what the technician is doing.

4. Possible risks of collecting blood samples for pregnancy tests:

4.1) While collecting a blood sample from the patient, there may be slight injury causing pain. However, this can be minimized by applying pressure to the injured area for several minutes after the needle is removed.

4.2) Additionally, in very few cases, some problems or discomforts may occur. Infection at the needle site, swollen veins, and lightheadedness. This causes blood pressure to be lower than usual, which can reduce the blood flow in the brain. And thus temporarily can result in dizziness.

5. How long the blood test pregnancy result is accurate?

5.1) While detecting HCG, blood tests are more sensitive than urine tests as a method to detect pregnancy during the time. 7—10 days after ovulation which means the release of an egg or ovum that may subsequently be fertilized by a sperm cell or dissolved during menstruation. The ovulation process is defined by a period of elevated hormones during the menstrual cycle. But the matter arises in the case of a woman who has an irregular menstrual period & does not know when she ovulated.

5.2) Blood test for pregnancy is considered accurate as it can detect a tiny amount of HCG in the bloodstream. Both qualitative & quantitative HCG blood serum tests can accurately detect pregnancy sooner than the period (when the urine test can identify).

5.3) The quantitative blood test for pregnancy

in addition to detecting positive pregnancy results, can also measure the exact amount of HCG in Blood. Hence can give an estimate of how far the pregnancy has progressed.

5.4) No test is 100% perfect in respect of the accuracy, need, cost, and other considerations. The blood test for pregnancy is more expensive and less convenient for a patient with acute illness. If any has to stand in the long queue during the prescribed schedule for getting the blood test done.

5.5) While confirming pregnancy with a trace amount of HCG hormone, the blood test for HCG  can display a false positive pregnancy test result (in fact, no pregnancy occurs). Because, low HCG may also occur in the case of ectopic pregnancy, possible miscarriage, and miscalculation of pregnancy dating.

5.6) Certain medications like fertility drugs interfere with HCG blood test results cause a false negative pregnancy test result may crop up.

5.7) The blood test result for pregnancy is also affected to a considerable extent by germ cells of the tumor. In the facts which are mostly found in reproductive organs.

6. How long does it take to get blood test results?

6.1) That blood test for pregnancy is more accurate, precise, and useful than a urine pregnancy test. Since apart from detecting pregnancy, blood tests also can estimate, how far the pregnancy path has progressed & whether the pregnancy is healthy or not. But even then the fact remains that urine tests, with all their limitations, can detect pregnancy within minutes. Whereas it takes several hours to several days to get the blood test result for pregnancy.

6.2) Many experts assert that the earliest possible time a blood test can detect HCG, is 7-10 days after ovulation occurs. But often the matter may arise when a woman has an irregular menstrual period, & she does not know when she ovulated.

6.3) It is challenging for sick women to go to the lab & stand in long queues for blood tests. In such a case, a home test is suggested for collecting, storing, and sending the blood sample to the laboratory. However, a home test for blood is much costlier. Moreover, an expert for collecting blood samples may not be available when wanted. Under such circumstances getting the blood test report is delayed for obvious reasons.

6.4) A skilled hand in collecting a blood sample, conducting and analyzing the test is indispensable.

6.5) There should be adequate staffing with specialists and professionals supported by the equipment needed to enhance patients' immediate service.

6.6) It takes time for the technician to enter into the laboratory computer containing the patient's demographic and other related information. In such a case, the delay may also occur on account of a power outage.

6.7) Often time is wasted in case of the sick and the aged women (over 40) for correctly selecting the vein before collecting a blood sample.

6.8) Most of the blood tests, starting from sample collection up to preparing the result, are performed within a few hours. But delay often occurs when the professional expert remains too busy with official responsibilities or be on leave.

6.9) Standardized blood samples and improved transport processes collection can help to gain speed in getting the test result.

7. Remarks

7.1) Experts put more significant stress on accuracy (than other considerations, such as time of getting the test result, cost, convenience.). Therefore, to attain maximum possible efficiency about the pregnancy test. It is mostly suggested to take both urine pregnancy tests at home followed by the HCG blood test. Which can confirm pregnancy with a minimal amount of HCG and additionally, can estimate the progress in the pregnancy path?

7.2) If a woman gets pregnant, then the normal HCG level in a blood test is:

Weeks from the last menstrual period	Normal HCG level  in  mlU/ml
4	0—750
5	200—7000
6	200—32000
7	3000—160000
8—12	32000—210000
12—16	9000—210000
16—29	1400—53000
29—41	940—60000

7.3) Normal HCG level for non-pregnant women is below 10.0 mIU/mL.

7.4) If HCG level lies outside the normal range, then it implies health complications. In this case, it is suggested to consult a physician.