Measuring human chorionic gonadotropin for detection of early pregnancy loss.
Elucidation of the primary molecular structure of hCG, coupled with monoclonal antibody technology, has permitted the construction of a partial map of hCG surfaces. Based on this information, two-site immunoradiometric assays have been developed which permit the measurement of intact hCG and its subunit molecular forms with unprecedented sensitivity and specificity. These assays have been employed in a determination of the incidence of early pregnancy loss in a normal population with the finding that 22% of all conceptions producing measurable hCG terminate before becoming clinically evident.
Canfield
R E
RE
Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032.
O'Connor
J F
JF
Wilcox
A J
AJ
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000097:blood*
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin