Qualititative Serum Beta-HCG - Serum Pregnancy Test, Qualitative

What do the test results mean?

Because the placenta produces HCG, it is an indicator of pregnancy. This test is not able to tell whether or not the pregnancy is healthy. Certain conditions besides pregnancy may cause a positive pregnancy test. These include:

The test may register as negative even though a woman is pregnant if the woman takes diuretic medications, or "fluid pills." These drugs interfere with the test results. In addition, the test does not become positive until at least 7 to 10 days after a woman becomes pregnant. In most cases, by the time a woman misses her period the test will be positive if she is pregnant.