Rapid Tests Detect Early-Stage Pregnancy

Two rapid diagnostic tests enable healthcare professionals to detect early pregnancy.

Early detection of pregnancy, especially in a hospital environment, allows the mother to avoid exposing the developing fetus to potentially harmful tests, chemicals, and environments.

Developed by Inverness Medical Professional Diagnostics (London, UK), the two diagnostic tests are called TestPack hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) Urine and TestPack hCG Combo (which can test both serum and urine). The tests can detect as little as 25 mIU/ml of hCG.

The tests are rapid immunoassays for the qualitative detection of human chorionic gonadotropin. The urine or serum sample is added to the sample well of the reaction disc of the TestPack and allowed to migrate through a membrane. As the sample proceeds through the membrane, it mobilizes the anti-hCG monoclonal antibody-colloid. If hCG is present, it forms a complex with the antibody-colloid. The antibody-colloid complex migrates through the membrane and is captured by the immobilized anti-hCG monoclonal antibody in the result window, providing a visual indication of the presence of hCG.

Reliable results are available in just five minutes, enabling healthcare workers to follow the most appropriate course of treatment, depending on the outcome. The in-built controls within the TestPack include both positive and negative controls. The positive on-board control gives an extra measure of quality control by demonstrating test functionality, since it will only appear if the reagents are chemically active. The negative on-board control is a marker to indicate false-positive results. It indicates a nonspecific binding entity in the specimen. Results are easy to interpret with recognizable plus and minus signs.

TestPack is a range of rapid diagnostic tests produced by Inverness Medical, designed for easy point-of-care use by healthcare professionals. In addition to TestPack hCG Urine and TestPack hCG Combo, TestPack Strep A is available for the qualitative detection of Streptococci A infection.


Related Links:
Inverness Medical Professional Diagnostics