Understanding Conflicting Pregnancy Test Results: What to Do

Question
Hello My name is Tam and i'm writing you to ask you a question regaurding my hsg level well i took a pregnay test on febuary 26th and it was positive it was a home pregnacy test so i was so happy and i couldnt belive it so i went to a pregnacy help clinic to confirm it and there test was negative so then i had some blood work done a couple of days later and i just got my results back that it was positive but there is something that disturbes me if my last period was january twenty first then it is now march  third why is the nurse saying that i could only be a couple weeks because when i took my blood test my hsg was 100 and something so she called me and told me i should go get my level rechecked to make sure its rising so i have to go tommorow so could you please answer my question that about my due date

Answer
Dear Tam,

With a LMP date of 1/21/09, you would have been 5 weeks, 6 days on 3/3/09. Now the range of normal for hCG during pregnancy is very broad, but for 5 weeks from LMP it is 18 - 7,340 mIU/ml and for 6 weeks it is 1,080 - 56,500 mIU/ml. That is why the clinic immediately assumed it was a pregnancy that was less far along. Sometimes the hCG level does not rise very well in pregnancies that are not healthy. Therefore, a more important indicator than the actual number itself is whether the hCG is rising appropriately. In a healthy pregnancy we expect the hCG level to double every 48-72 hours. So - when you return for the follow-up visit - your hCG should be at least 200+. Your initial ultrasound in a few weeks will be able to confirm pregnancy dating for you.

I hope this has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well!

Brenda