BETA HUMAN CHORIONIC GONODOTROPIN
Non-Pregnant: < 10 mIU/mL
Post LMP weeks of pregnancy Normal values in mIU/mL
1st weeks 10 - 30
2nd weeks 30 - 100
3rd weeks 100 - 1000
4th weeks 1,000 - 10,000
2nd & 3rd month 30,000 - 100,000
2nd trimester 10,000 - 30,000
3rd trimester 5,000 - 15,000
In pregnancy, the levels of hCG increase exponentially for about 8 to 10 weeks after the last menstrual cycle. Later in pregnancy, about 12 weeks after conception, the concentration of HCG begins to fall as the placenta begins to produce steroid hormones. Other sources of elevated hCG values are ectopic pregnancy, threatened abortion, and recent termination of pregnancy. Human chorionic gonadotropin can be used as a tumor marker, as its ß subunit is secreted by some cancers including seminoma, choriocarcinoma, germ cell umors,hydatidiform mole formation, teratoma with elements of choriocarcinoma, and islet cell tumor. For this reason a positive result in males can be a test for testicular cancer. The normal range for men is between 0-5 mIU/mL. Combined with alpha-fetoprotein, ß-HCG is an excellent tumor marker for the monitoring of germ cell tumors.
