Good morning friends.Today I'll post a brief review on the 2nd hormonal assay for pregnancy diagnosis: SERUM PROGESTERONE.Progesterone is a steroid hormone that is produced by the corpus luteum,which prepares the uterus for pregnancy.
Detecting the blood levels of serum progesterone,after serum HCG has become already positive,is usually done in cases where there is a suspicion of abnormal pregnancy[ectopic pregnancy,abortion etc]
METHODS OF DETECTION:1.fluoroimmunoassay 2.radio-immunoassay 3. an ELISA kit is also available.which detects serum progesterone level greater than 15ng/ml.
IMPLICATIONS OF TEST RESULT:A value more than 25ng/ml usually indicates a viable pregnancy. A value less than 5ng/ml may indicate a non-viable pregnancy,and further investigations are required. A value greater than 15ng/ml usually excludes ectopic pregnancy. A value between 5-25 ng/ml usually requires further ancillary investigations like ultrasound,serial testing etc. to exclude the risk of abnormal pregnancy.
This test has other uses too:in the evaluation of congenital adrenal hyperplasia,ovarian cancer,adrenal cancer etc.
For further information on this,please discuss this issue with your doctor or may visit the oxford journal sitehere
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