HCG 150 after 4 day embryo transfer

[ssmoops559]

This was my first IVF cycle, but I have done 8 IUI, with no positive HCG until now.  I had 9- 8 cell embryos. We transferred 2 on 6/11, and froze the rest.  I had some spotting on 6/19, very little pink color, and spotting 6/21 brownish color. My breasts have been pretty sore, but slowly decreasing in soreness. My abdominal area has been pretty full, almost like fluid retention (which I am assuming both are from the trigger shot) Yesterday was my 14 day post embryo transfer HCG, and it came back positive (150) The doc where I go, is 3 hours away, and so with there permission I went to a local lab to have my blood drawn, now he is asking that I repeat the test Monday at the same lab or go to his office this weekend.  Any thoughts on why he may want me to come in?  I really cannot find info on HCG numbers 14 day post 4 day embryo transfer. He is saying it's because the labs "values" are diffrent from one another, but of course I am worried, and just need to hear some similar experiences, or more solid word that everything is going good.  Thanks in advance.

[Elaine Brown, MD]

Hi!
Now that you have had a positive HCG, it is crucial for your RE to be able to follow the levels and compare them to deterimine whether the pregnancy is developing normally.
For that, he/she needs to have the levels done at the same lab so that the same method of testing is used and the same standardization.  Labs definitely vary a lot and the same test done on the same blood sample might be quite a bit different from one lab to the next.  Other than guessing, there is really no way to intrepret what HCG levels done at different labs mean.

I'm sure that is the one and only real reason your RE called you.  If your first value is 150, another value done 48 hours later should be approximately 300. If the values rise appropriately that is an excellent prognosis for the pregnancy.  As soon as the level goes over 2000, your RE will very likely want an ultrasound done.  Before that time, not too much is visible on average technology.  That too varies from place to place though.

I hope all goes well for you, and your number is a good solid number for post transfer day 14.  By the way, it is not possible to tell whether or not the pregnancy is a multiple from the HCG levels--just thought you might ask!

Good luck!
Dr B

[thebabybaker]

Congrats! Try not to worry. I had varying HCG numbers at different labs (I had to go out of town for one of my betas and be tested at a different lab, which was off from my RE's office) and I was told that each lab is different. Your RE probably wants you to come in so he can test with the lab (s)he's most familiar with. Good luck!