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Lab Tests
February 22, 2002 - March 6, 2002
3 weeks 6 days - 5 weeks 4 days
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This simple JavaScript applet takes two HCG levels, the number of days between those samples, and calculates the number of hours it took to double. Type in your numbers and the doubling time will be calculated automatically.
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The same day I tested positive with the at-home pregnancy test, I went in to get a blood test done. The result was the same: Positive!
There are two things you can test for in early pregnancy: hCG levels and progesterone levels. The following table show my test results.
Blood Test Results
| Date |
hCG
(mIU) |
Progesterone
(ng/ml) |
February 22, 2002
3 weeks 6 days |
75 |
N/A |
February 27, 2002
4 weeks 4 days |
602 |
18 |
March 6, 2002
5 weeks 4 days |
14,750 |
32.1 |
hCG Levels
A good indication of a healthy pregnancy is that the pregnancy hormone, hCG, increases as the pregnancy progresses. The following tables shows expected doubling rates based on hCG level and the wide range of normal hCG levels during pregnancy.
| Weeks from LMP |
hCG (mIU/cc) |
| 3 |
5 - 50 |
| 4 |
4 - 426 |
| 5 |
19 - 7,340 |
| 6 |
1,080 - 56,500 |
| 7 - 8 |
7,650 - 229,000 |
| 9 - 12 |
25,700 - 288,000 |
| 13 - 16 |
13,300 - 254,000 |
| 17 - 24 |
4,060 - 165,400 |
| 25 - 40 |
3,640 - 117,000 |
| hCG Level |
Doubling Time |
| < 1200 |
48-72 hours |
| 1200 to 6000 |
72-96 hours |
| > 6000 |
>96 hours |
Progesterone Levels
Due to my history of previous losses, we also checked the progesterone levels. During pregnancy, the body should be making the right amount of progesterone to sustain the pregnancy. Some doctors believe that low progesterone levels can cause miscarriage. Since my doctor likes to see a progesterone greater than 20 ng/ml for patients who have had previous losses, I was prescribed additional progesterone for the early part of my pregnancy. That is why my subsequent test shows a much higher level. The following graph shows progesterone levels throughout pregnancy.
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