Beta hCG Report: Levels by Week & How to Read It
Beta hCG is a hormone made during pregnancy. A blood test reports it in mIU/mL, and the usual level changes a lot from week to week.
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What a beta hCG test shows
Pregnancy hormone
hCG is made by the placenta after a pregnancy starts.
An exact number
A blood test gives a number. A urine test gives a yes or no.
Change over days
Doctors often compare two results taken 48 hours apart.
Beta hCG levels by week
Labs differ a little. Always compare with the range printed on your report.
| Test | hCG level | Unit | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Not pregnant | |||
| Negative | Below 5 | mIU/mL | The usual value when not pregnant. |
| Borderline | 5–25 | mIU/mL | Labs often suggest a repeat test. |
| Weeks since your last period | |||
| 3 weeks | 5–50 | mIU/mL | Very early. Levels are low. |
| 4 weeks | 5–426 | mIU/mL | Around the time of a missed period. |
| 5 weeks | 18–7,340 | mIU/mL | Levels usually rise fast. |
| 6 weeks | 1,080–56,500 | mIU/mL | Still rising quickly. |
| 7 to 8 weeks | 7,650–229,000 | mIU/mL | Still rising. |
| 9 to 12 weeks | 25,700–288,000 | mIU/mL | Levels usually peak in this window. |
| 13 to 16 weeks | 13,300–254,000 | mIU/mL | Levels start to fall. |
| 17 to 24 weeks | 4,060–165,400 | mIU/mL | Lower and steadier. |
| 25 to 40 weeks | 3,640–117,000 | mIU/mL | Stays lower until birth. |
| Urine test | |||
| Urine hCG | Negative | Shows whether hCG is found, without a number. | |
Ranges from the NirogGyan biomarker library and Commonly published hCG ranges by week of pregnancy. Updated .
What a beta hCG report looks like
The same results in the usual lab layout, and as a NirogGyan Smart Report.
Numbers and ranges in rows
Each value on our report slider
How to read your hCG report
Check the weeks
Count weeks from the first day of your last period. The range depends on it.
Find your result
Beta hCG is printed in mIU/mL.
Compare with your week
Use the range for your week. Ranges are wide.
Compare two results
Doctors often repeat the test after 48 hours and read the change.
Beta hCG report questions
What beta hCG value is negative?
Our biomarker library uses 0 to 5 mIU/mL as negative. Values between 5 and 25 are often called borderline, and labs suggest a repeat test.
Why do ranges by week look so wide?
hCG levels differ a lot from one healthy pregnancy to another. A single value says less than the change between two tests.
Why does the doctor repeat the beta hCG test?
In early pregnancy, hCG usually rises quickly over a few days. Doctors compare two results taken 48 hours apart.
Is a blood hCG test the same as a urine test?
Both look for hCG. The blood test gives an exact number and can find lower levels earlier than a urine test.
Can beta hCG be positive without pregnancy?
Rarely, some medicines and medical conditions can raise hCG. Your doctor reads the result with your history.
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