title: Evaluation of a urinary test as a diagnostic tool of a nonprogressive pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the performance of a one-step test detecting intact hCG and free β-hCG isoforms in the urine of pregnant women to diagnose an abnormal pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Emergency gynecology departments in teaching hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five hundred twenty-six patients were enrolled, 272 who were not pregnant and 254 who were pregnant.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semiquantitative determination of intact urinary hCG of supposedly not pregnant and pregnant women with vaginal bleeding and/or vaginal pain between 5 and 8 weeks of amenorrhea.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sensitivity and specificity of the urine test for diagnosing nonpregnancy were, respectively, 100% (252/252) and 100% (272/272). The sensitivity and specificity of the urine test for diagnosing ectopic pregnancy (EP) were, respectively, 97% (32/33) and 83% (142/171). The negative predictive value is 99.3% (142/143). The sensitivity and specificity or the urine test for diagnosing miscarriage were, respectively, 89.6% (43/48) and 83% (142/171). The negative predictive value is 96.6% (142/147).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abnormal pregnancy, such as an EP or a miscarriage, can be rapidly detected with the one-step test for intact hCG and free β-hCG isoforms. If ultrasound cannot confirm the localization and/or evolution of a pregnancy, using this test reduces medical supervision and repeated quantification of hCG.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Antoine Béclère Hospital, Clamart, France.
authors.forename: Silhem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mazouz
authors.forename: Jae Kwan
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fernandez
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine*; D000328:Adult; D003944:Diagnostic Techniques, Obstetrical and Gynecological; D020964:Embryo Loss / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011258:Pregnancy Tests; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000652:urine; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016482:Urinalysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult