Assessment of rapid radioimmunoassay for urinary beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta hCG-RIA) in early pregnancy.

ABSTRACT

PIP A preliminary report of the results of a specific, quantitative method of rapid (4.5 hours) beta human chorionic gonadotropin radioimmunoassay (hCG-RIA) of urine voided at any time for diagnosing early pregnancy is presented. In 50 cases neither false positive nor false negative reactions were noted. The beta-hCG-RIA method showed positive results as early as the 25th day of the menstrual cycle. This method has also proven helpful in the early diagnosis of suspected ectopic pregnancies with negative pregnancy tests, in the detection of incomplete abortion, and in the follow-up examination of treated patients with hydatidiform mole or choriocarcinoma. The urine voided at any time could be used as specimens for the rapid beta-hCG-RIA which could be completed in 4.5 hours in the laboratory. The assay was clinically useful because of its shorter incubation time and the possibility of taking the urine as samples in the test instead of the serum specimen. (author's modified)^ieng