The PregnanStick™ is a rapid chromatographic immunoassay for the qualitative detection of human chorionic gonadotropin in urine or serum to aid in the early detection of pregnancy.
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a glycoprotein hormone produced by the developing placenta shortly after fertilization. In normal pregnancy, hCG can be detected in both urine and serum as early as 7 to 10 days after conception.1,2,3,4 hCG levels continue to rise very rapidly, frequently exceeding 100 mIU/mL by the first missed menstrual period,2,3,4 and peaking in the 100,000-200,000 mIU/mL range about 10-12 weeks into pregnancy. The appearance of hCG in both urine and serum soon after conception, and its subsequent rapid rise in concentration during early gestational growth, make it an excellent marker for the early detection of pregnancy.
The PregnanStick™ is a rapid test that qualitatively detects the presence of hCG in urine or serum specimens at a sensitivity of 25 mIU/mL. The test utilizes a combination of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to selectively detect elevated levels of hCG in urine or serum. At the level of claimed sensitivity, the PregnanStick™ shows no cross-reactivity interference from the structurally related glycoprotein hormones hFSH, hLH and hTSH at high physiological levels