The definition of ectopic pregnancy in early terms is one of the main tasks in gynecology, since if it is confirmed earlier than 28 days of pregnancy, this problem can be solved by medication. Unfortunately, in most cases, ectopic pregnancy is diagnosed much later, when there is a rupture of the tube with bleeding into the abdominal cavity. In such cases, the patient needs surgical treatment. A negative test for ectopic pregnancy can be at a very early stage, when the chorionic gonadotropin does not rise to the desired level.
Is ectopic pregnancy determined by a test?
To understand - whether the test shows an ectopic pregnancy - you need to understand what affects the result of a pregnancy test . When a woman becomes pregnant, the level of the human chorionic gonadotropin hormone increases in the urine, which rises both in normal and pathological pregnancies. The level of beta-hCG in ectopic pregnancy rises by 1-2 weeks later than with normal uterine pregnancy. But after all about the pregnancy that she had had a woman thinks about when the menstruation was delayed or the symptoms of toxicosis already appear, therefore, for an ectopic pregnancy test shows the same two strips as in a normal pregnancy.
What test determines an ectopic pregnancy?
So, we need to figure out whether ectopic pregnancy is determined by a test? The usual test can confirm the presence in your body of pregnancy, and to determine the pathological there is a special test cassette for determining an ectopic pregnancy, which is called INEXSCREEN. The basis of this test is the immunochromatographic analysis, and the mechanism of its work is different from the usual tests. Conventional tests are sensitive to an increase in beta-hCG in the urine of a pregnant woman, and the INEXSCREEN test is able to determine the presence of two of its isoforms: intact and modified. Modified chorionic gonadotropin in normal pregnancy should be at least 10%, and the testimony of an ectopic pregnancy test is much less than 10%, which is confirmed by the presence of ectopic pregnancy. This test appeared relatively recently, but it is quite reliable in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy (90%). The advantage of it is the ease of use at home, affordable price and the ability to purchase at most pharmacies. A negative aspect - positive test results with ectopic pregnancy can be obtained no earlier than 1 week after the delay in menstruation.
An ectopic pregnancy can be determined by an INEXSCREEN test if the following conditions are met:
- urine should be used immediately after it is received, otherwise the transition of one form of chorionic gonadotropin to another is inevitable, which in turn distorts the results;
- When the test-cassette is depressurized, it should be immediately used;
- be sure to study the instruction and follow it.
In the case of bloody discharge from the genital tract, accompanied by severe cramping pain in the abdomen, you should immediately seek medical help, as this may be symptoms of impaired tubal pregnancy.
Thus, we examined all possible results of the pregnancy test with suspicion of ectopic. Also have seen, that on very early term the test at an ectopic pregnancy can be doubtful or false positive. For a period longer than 5 weeks with an ectopic pregnancy, the test is positive, and the INEXSCREEN test is specific and able to detect an ectopic pregnancy at the earliest possible time.