Type of test Blood

Normal findings

Test explanation and related physiology

The human placenta produces hPL, which maintains pregnancy. Serum levels of hPL rise very early in normal pregnancy and continue to increase until a plateau is reached at about the 35th week after conception. Assays for maternal serum levels of hPL are useful in monitoring placental function. Measurements of hPL also are used in pregnancies complicated by hypertension, proteinuria, edema, postmaturity, placental insufficiency, or possible miscarriage.

A decreased serum concentration of hPL is pathognomonic for a malfunction of the placenta, which may cause intrauterine growth retardation, intrauterine death of the fetus, or imminent miscarriage. Pregnant women with hypertonia also show low serum concentrations of hPL. Because of the short biological half-life of hPL in serum, the determination of hPL gives a very accurate picture of the present situation.

Increased serum concentrations of hPL are found in women with diabetes mellitus and, because of the higher placental mass, in multiple pregnancies. In contrast to estriol, the hPL concentration depends only on the placental mass and not on fetal function. The simultaneous determination of hPL and estriol can be helpful in the differential evaluation of placental function.

 Procedure and patient care

 • See inside front cover for Routine Blood Testing.

• Fasting: no

• Blood tube commonly used: red

• Indicate the date of the patient’s last menstrual period on the laboratory slip.

* Explain the possibility that serial testing is often required.

 Abnormal findings

Increased levels

-Multiple pregnancies

-Placental-site trophoblastic tumor

-Intact molar pregnancy

- Diabetes

-Rh incompatibility

Decreased levels

- Placental insufficiency

- Toxemia Preeclampsia

- Hydatidiform mole

-Choriocarcinoma

مواضيع ذات صلة

human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) I/II antibody

human papillomavirus (HPV test, HPV DNA testing, HPV Genotyping, HPV mRNA testing)

human lymphocyte antigen B27 (HLA-B27 antigen, Human leukocyte A antigen, White blood cell antigens, Histocompatibility leukocyte A antigen)

Nucleic Acid –Based Tests

human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG, Pregnancy tests, hCG beta subunit)

homocysteine (Hcy)

HIV serologic and virologic testing

HIV RNA quantification (HIV viral load)

Molecules involved in Lipoprotein metabolism

Lipoproteins

Retinol Binding Protein

Direct Visualization Of The Organism