title: Clinical and laboratory issues associated with persistent low-level elevations of hCG in a female of childbearing age.
abstract: Persistent low-level elevations of serum concentrations of hCG in a non-pregnant female of childbearing age were investigated by a number of laboratory techniques including heterophile blocking reagents, polyethylene glycol precipitation, serial dilutions and hCG measurements on several different instrument/reagent systems. The results of these studies indicated that this patient had immunoreactive hCG in her serum that was not the intact hCG molecule but primarily the free β-hCG subunit. Differential diagnoses are discussed along with recommendation for continued surveillance of serum hCG concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, North Shore-LIJ Health System, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, 300 Community Dr., Manhasset, NY 11030, United States. Electronic address: lbjornso@nshs.edu.
authors.forename: Loring K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Bjornson
authors.affiliation: Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, North Shore-LIJ Health System, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, 300 Community Dr., Manhasset, NY 11030, United States.
authors.forename: Aruna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rangan
authors.affiliation: Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, North Shore-LIJ Health System, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 300 Community Dr., Manhasset, NY 11030, United States.
authors.forename: Tamatha B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Fenster
authors.affiliation: Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, North Shore-LIJ Health System, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, 300 Community Dr., Manhasset, NY 11030, United States.
authors.forename: Minoti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Magotra
authors.affiliation: Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, North Shore-LIJ Health System, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 300 Community Dr., Manhasset, NY 11030, United States.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nimaroff
mesh_terms: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin
keywords: Free beta-hCG; Free beta-subunit; hCG