title: Four rapid serum-urine combination assays of choriogonadotropin (hCG) compared and assessed for their utility in quantitative determinations of hCG.
abstract: We evaluated the performance of four visually read pregnancy tests (TestPack Plus hCG Combo, ICON II hCG, SureCell hCG-Serum/Urine and PregnaGen 1-Step) designed to detect increased concentrations of choriogonadotropin (hCG) in either serum or urine samples. The biochemical sensitivities and specificity in both serum and urine samples were similar for each kit. All kits correctly identified pregnancy serum samples: The TestPack Plus hCG Combo and SureCell hCG-Serum/Urine were 100% specific; the other two kits exhibited a few false-positive results. For urine samples the ICON II hCG test was 100% sensitive, and the other three were 99.5% sensitive, with false-positive urine results occasionally reported by the PregnaGen 1-Step and ICON II hCG tests. Quantitative hCG concentrations could be estimated in pregnancy serum samples, but not urine samples, through determination of the time elapsed from the sample application or addition of the final reagent to the first appearance of a positive result.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, UCLA School of Medicine 90048.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Mishalani
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seliktar
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Braunstein
mesh_terms: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000032:analysis / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000032:analysis / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000737:chemistry; D011247:Pregnancy; D011258:Pregnancy Tests / Q000379:methods*; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D013972:Thyrotropin