A SIMPLE IMMUNOLOGIC TEST FOR PREGNANCY

Experience with a latex agglutination-inhibition slide test for human chorionic gonadotrophin which allows pregnancy to be diagnosed in three minutes is described. Among 350 tests performed, 115 were in patients who presented with some complication of a presumed pregnancy, and 132 patients presented diagnostic problems in which pregnancy was to be ruled out. Clinical follow-up confirmed the accuracy of the test and its usefulness in the management of such clinical problems. In addition, among 48 patients with normal pregnancy between 42 and 120 days in duration, the only false-negative test was in one patient who was exactly 42 days from her last normal menstrual period.