title: Evaluation of the beta-Neocept test for early pregnancy.
abstract: We tested the validity of the beta-Neocept test for early pregnancy against that of the plasma human chorionic gonadotropin beta-subunit radioimmunoassay (beta-HCG RIA). The beta-Neocept test had a sensitivity of 88%, a specificity of 93%, a positive predictive value of 95%, a negative predictive value of 84% and an accuracy of 90%. In view of these performance characteristics, its low cost and its ease of use, the beta-Neocept test could be used as the initial pregnancy test when there is a high probability of pregnancy, as there was in this study population, which consisted of 111 women attending endocrine infertility clinics. The more expensive beta-HCG RIA could be reserved for special indications and for patients in whom the results of the urinary hemagglutination inhibition tests are inconsistent with the clinical signs and symptoms.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D011247:Pregnancy; D011259:Pregnancy Tests, Immunologic / Q000592:standards; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D010446:Peptide Fragments