Pregnancy (POCT)

Overview
Department	Point of Care Testing (POCT)
Test Code	N/A
Synonyms	BhCG Urine (POCT) Urine hGC (POCT)
Availability	Disposable Pregnancy Urine testing devices are available at both Taranaki Base and Hawera Hospital in select accredited departments (ED, Theatres, Day ward, endoscopy and surgical outpatients)
Turnaround Time	5 minutes from the time the urine has been added to the testing well on the device
Stability – Add test	N/A
Specimen Requirements
Specimen	Urine
Preferred	Fresh urine collected in a clean dry pottle/container. Random urine collected anytime during the day is suitable but a first morning urine will contain the highest concentration of hCG.
Acceptable	Specimens that have been stored in the refrigerator (2-8°C ) for up to 48 hrs.
Minimum Volume	1 ml
Specimen Collection and Transportation	Urine collected in a clean dry pottle/container. if being tested straight away sample can be ambient (8-24°C), If longer than sample should be chilled (2-8°C) for up to 48 hrs.
Test Information
Test Method	Lateral flow immunoassay (TestPack +plus OBC hCG urine, Abbott)
Unit of Measurement	mIU/L
Reference Intervals	A positive result usually indicates urine hCG levels of >25 mIU/L
Uncertainty of measurement	N/A
Additional Information	A positive test indicates that there is detectable hCG in the urine specimen, most likely to be due to pregnancy. Tests usually become positive when the hCG concentration reaches 25IU/L. If there is a high clinical suspicion of pregnancy but the urine test is negative, either send a blood sample to the lab for serum hCG measurement or repeat the urine pregnancy test in 2-3 days. False positive urine pregnancy tests are rare, but the result can be confirmed with serum hCG measurement. If the urine/serum hCG is measurable but there is no evidence of pregnancy, consider whether there is an alternative source of hCG production (for example, from an hCG-secreting tumour).
Comments
Quick user guides for testing should be available near the testing kits. All procedures, worksheets and competency checklist for sign-off are available on the intranet to all Health NZ Staff. This test is IANZ accredited.

Owner	Pam Chung (Pchung)
Last reviewed	01.10.2025
Next review	01.10.2026 (OK)