earliest definitive blood test - Ghost

[leorira11]

Ghost --

Long story short, but I have another round of blood tests to do, in addition to my beta (CBC, cholesterol, etc from my GP). I was going to do all the blood draws at once, because getting blood is a pain for me (teeny veins, bruise like a peach).

My referral for the blood tests expires tomorrow -- I'll only be 8dp5dt. Would that be late enough that if the beta is negative, the cycle didn't work? I understand that if it's positive, the levels will be much lower than I'm used to hearing, since it'll be 3-4 days before my clinic usually does a beta.

I'm getting super faint positives on home pregnancy tests (urine). I'm super tempted to do the beta with my other blood tests tomorrow!

Bottom line -- how early is the earliest you can determine that a cycle is negative?

thanks!

[Ghost]

If it's already positive (per HPT), and most pregnancies are positive by this point, then you should not need to worry about the interpretation of a potential negative. Yes, it will be much lower than a test 4 days later and should be interpreted as such. Any reading must be interpreted based on when it was made.

However, if it is negative, then you cannot rule out pregnancy. In rare cases, the embryo may implant a little later than 8dp5dt. Your positive HPT suggests this is not the case.

However, if it turns out to be negative, you have the option of following up with further HPTs (for at least a further week or more, check with your RE). Your clinic should want to perform some of them. Based on them, you might elect to have another blood test later.

Some clinics don't even run blood tests, and rely on HPTs only.

Ghost --

Long story short, but I have another round of blood tests to do, in addition to my beta (CBC, cholesterol, etc from my GP). I was going to do all the blood draws at once, because getting blood is a pain for me (teeny veins, bruise like a peach).

My referral for the blood tests expires tomorrow -- I'll only be 8dp5dt. Would that be late enough that if the beta is negative, the cycle didn't work? I understand that if it's positive, the levels will be much lower than I'm used to hearing, since it'll be 3-4 days before my clinic usually does a beta.

I'm getting super faint positives on home pregnancy tests (urine). I'm super tempted to do the beta with my other blood tests tomorrow!

Bottom line -- how early is the earliest you can determine that a cycle is negative?

thanks!

[leorira11]

Ghost - thanks. That's what I thought.

I'm not sure the HPTs are positive. The line only shows up when the test starts to dry (towards the end of the 10 min time limit) and I can't tell if it's pink or just gray (ie, the antibody strip, but nothings reacting with it). I've used this brand test before and never seen a false line, but this is a new batch. The line didn't get darker yet...

Hopefully tomorrow will give me a more definitive answer.

But negative won't mean 100% negative... just 99% negative. Ugh.

[tuffy4u]

Good luck tomorrow Leora!

[leorira11]

beta today was 21

I'm 8dp5dt. I compared on betabase.info -- according to them, the average for 13 dpo is 63. So I'm a bit lower than that.

But I'm hoping that's just because my frostie took a little longer to settle in!

The results say "anything lower than 5 is not pregnant; anything higher than 25 is pregnant". I'm not sure what that means about my "21", but I'm cautiously optimistic! I'll go for a follow up blood test on Sunday!

[Happy Bunny]

YAY!!!! That is super awesome! Congrats!

[tuffy4u]

Awesome news! Congratulations, lets hope the baby's just finding a good spot to spend the next nine months.

[Ghost]

The results say "anything lower than 5 is not pregnant; anything higher than 25 is pregnant". I'm not sure what that means about my "21", but I'm cautiously optimistic! I'll go for a follow up blood test on Sunday!

It means somebody made up some arbitrary values. You are pregnant by definition, because you have an implanted embryo providing hCG to your system. At this point, that embryo is very small, as expected.

While 21 is low, even for this point, like you said, it's not all that low. Let's watch and see how it develops. Your Sunday test will give more insight. It may be that it was slowed a little by freezing and just needed time to replace some dead cells.

Congratulations.

[dogzrule]

Leorira, my first beta with my daughter, at 9dp5dt, on a fresh cycle, where the numbers are supposed to be better, was 31. I am so rooting for you and so happy that you are pregnant!

[TammyS]

Woohooo...Leora!! What a nice surprise...I was just checking in real quick and saw your post! Hoping and praying for you!! xoxo

[leorira11]

thanks for all the love guys! (hi Tammy!)

beta #2 at 11dp5dt ---

122

doubling time of ~28 hours!

Woohooo!
U/s next week!

[annashope]

Oh Leora I am ecstatic for you. I have been pulling and praying for you all weekend and here I am checking the boards at 5:30 am just to see your beta and what am awesome number!!!Congratulations dear you deserve happiness and I hope this pregnancy brings you much needed happiness

[Ghost]

thanks for all the love guys! (hi Tammy!)

beta #2 at 11dp5dt ---

122

doubling time of ~28 hours!

Woohooo!
U/s next week!

Very nice. Looks like your embryo was just a little slow getting started. Maybe an FET thing. Best of luck.

[leorira11]

Ghost -

Thanks! We're optimistic.

No more betas - my clinic thinks that early u/s are better indicators than repeat blood draws. So I have an u/s next week (I'll be 5w3d).

Fingers crossed!

[brit1612]

Congrats on your pregnancy! Your numbers seem to be going up nicely. Hope you have a great ultrasound!!