Your Pregnancy Blood Test (BhCG)
Once your embryo has been transferred, you will have been given a date to return for your pregnancy test. This is a quick blood test, performed on the unit in the morning. Staff will then contact you later in the day with the result and a plan of action.
The test performed is a BhCG (Beta Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin). This is a hormone produced by the embryo after implantation.
Since initiating bloods test in 2011, we have monitored the results. It is important your test is performed on the allocated day as we can use the result to determine your treatment pathway. Deviation from this date will mean the result will not be as accurate.
Many still perform home pregnancy tests; however, we will not use these to determine your care. In fertility clinics, a form of hCG is given as an injection to trigger ovulation prior to egg collection, in the case of an IVF cycle, or insemination in the case of an IUI cycle. This means a positive test prior to your test date may show this drug in your system and not be an accurate reflection of whether the treatment has been successful or not.
Our Results
- Anything less than 5 is a negative test. You will be offered a follow up appointment to discuss the cycle with a Doctor and plan your next steps.
- If your result is between 5 and 200, we will ask that you return for another blood test in 48 hours. An ongoing pregnancy should increase by approximately 66% every 2 days and this repeat test allows us to compare the results.
- A level that does not increase by this much may indicate a pregnancy that is not developing in the correct way. Testing allows us to act in a timely manner.
- A level that drops may indicate a biochemical pregnancy and this will be tracked until it returns back to a negative level.
- Any test above 200 would confirm a pregnancy and a scan will be booked for around 2 weeks later to ensure pregnancy is developing as it should. This is performed around 6-7 weeks of pregnancy.
| Test Result | No. of Tests | Ongoing Pregnancy |
| 5-39 | 199 | 1% |
| 41-99 | 101 | 17% |
| 100-149 | 82 | 35% |
| 150-199 | 85 | 53% |
| 200-299 | 201 | 69% |
| 300-399 | 220 | 76% |
| 400-499 | 182 | 81% |
| 500-599 | 179 | 84% |
| 600-699 | 151 | 85% |
| 700-799 | 90 | 80% |
| 800-899 | 80 | 86% |
| 900-999 | 72 | 82% |
| 1000-1099 | 44 | 86% |
The lowest BhCG result that has resulted in an ongoing pregnancy or has led to a live birth is 45. It is possible to bleed prior to your test. If this does happen, we still need to perform the test on the allocated day as bleeding does not always mean that treatment has not been successful.
Contact Us
However, if you have any questions or concerns through your 2 week wait a member of staff will always be happy to speak to you.
Telephone: 0191 445 2768 (Direct Line)
Email: [email protected]
or in the case of an Emergency call 0191 482 0000 and ask for a member of the IVF team after office hours.