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False-positive point-of-care urine beta human chorionic gonadotropin testing: Insights from two clinical cases.

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Title: False-positive point-of-care urine beta human chorionic gonadotropin testing: Insights from two clinical cases.
Authors: Dissanayake, Gayani Nilmini1 (AUTHOR), Fourie, Hanine2 (AUTHOR), Fricker, Gordana2 (AUTHOR), Thayabaran, Darmiga2 (AUTHOR), Patel, Mayur3 (AUTHOR), Granne, Ingrid4 (AUTHOR), Shine, Brian3 (AUTHOR) brian.shine@ouh.nhs.uk
Source: Annals of Clinical Biochemistry. Sep2026, Vol. 63 Issue 5, p458-461. 4p.
Subject Terms: *False positive error, *Point-of-care testing, *Maternal health services, *Laboratory techniques, *Laparoscopy, *Chorionic gonadotropins
Abstract: Case one: A young woman presented to the Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU) with abdominal pain, amenorrhoea and variably positive home-pregnancy tests. On review, a point-of-care test (POCT) for urine beta-HCG (β-HCG) was negative but a blood test using the Abbott i-STAT β-HCG POCT device was positive. Initial transvaginal ultrasound did not demonstrate an intra- or extra-uterine pregnancy. Over the following 2 months, weekly plasma POCT iSTAT β-HCG checks remained positive. After a further ultrasound suggesting a possible ectopic pregnancy, the patient underwent a diagnostic laparoscopy which was unremarkable. Post-operatively, POCT iSTAT β-HCG levels remained elevated, and a blood sample was sent for laboratory analysis revealing an undetectable β-HCG of <1.20 IU/L (reference interval 0–4). Case two: A middle-aged woman presented to the emergency department with mons pubis pain and swelling and was admitted to the gynaecology ward for drainage of bilateral abscesses. On review, she had raised blood β-HCG levels, measured using the Abbott i-STAT POCT device. A subsequent blood sample sent for laboratory analysis showed β-HCG levels within the post-menopausal reference interval. Discussion: In both cases, POCT immunoassay interference was confirmed by consistent results produced when contemporaneous samples were analysed by different analytical platforms. Immunoassay interference, though rare, can lead to inaccurate results from POCT devices, potentially impacting patient diagnosis and management. Clinical teams should remain vigilant for this possibility; if test results do not align with clinical expectations, it is essential to promptly send a blood sample for laboratory analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Academic Search Index
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  Data: False-positive point-of-care urine beta human chorionic gonadotropin testing: Insights from two clinical cases.
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  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Dissanayake%2C+Gayani+Nilmini%22&quot;&gt;Dissanayake, Gayani Nilmini&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;relatesTo&gt;1&lt;/relatesTo&gt; (AUTHOR)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Fourie%2C+Hanine%22&quot;&gt;Fourie, Hanine&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;relatesTo&gt;2&lt;/relatesTo&gt; (AUTHOR)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Fricker%2C+Gordana%22&quot;&gt;Fricker, Gordana&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;relatesTo&gt;2&lt;/relatesTo&gt; (AUTHOR)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Thayabaran%2C+Darmiga%22&quot;&gt;Thayabaran, Darmiga&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;relatesTo&gt;2&lt;/relatesTo&gt; (AUTHOR)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Patel%2C+Mayur%22&quot;&gt;Patel, Mayur&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;relatesTo&gt;3&lt;/relatesTo&gt; (AUTHOR)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Granne%2C+Ingrid%22&quot;&gt;Granne, Ingrid&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;relatesTo&gt;4&lt;/relatesTo&gt; (AUTHOR)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Shine%2C+Brian%22&quot;&gt;Shine, Brian&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;relatesTo&gt;3&lt;/relatesTo&gt; (AUTHOR)&lt;i&gt; brian.shine@ouh.nhs.uk&lt;/i&gt;
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  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;JN&quot; term=&quot;%22Annals+of+Clinical+Biochemistry%22&quot;&gt;Annals of Clinical Biochemistry&lt;/searchLink&gt;. Sep2026, Vol. 63 Issue 5, p458-461. 4p.
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  Data: *&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22False+positive+error%22&quot;&gt;False positive error&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;*&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Point-of-care+testing%22&quot;&gt;Point-of-care testing&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;*&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Maternal+health+services%22&quot;&gt;Maternal health services&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;*&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Laboratory+techniques%22&quot;&gt;Laboratory techniques&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;*&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Laparoscopy%22&quot;&gt;Laparoscopy&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;*&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Chorionic+gonadotropins%22&quot;&gt;Chorionic gonadotropins&lt;/searchLink&gt;
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Case one: A young woman presented to the Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU) with abdominal pain, amenorrhoea and variably positive home-pregnancy tests. On review, a point-of-care test (POCT) for urine beta-HCG (β-HCG) was negative but a blood test using the Abbott i-STAT β-HCG POCT device was positive. Initial transvaginal ultrasound did not demonstrate an intra- or extra-uterine pregnancy. Over the following 2 months, weekly plasma POCT iSTAT β-HCG checks remained positive. After a further ultrasound suggesting a possible ectopic pregnancy, the patient underwent a diagnostic laparoscopy which was unremarkable. Post-operatively, POCT iSTAT β-HCG levels remained elevated, and a blood sample was sent for laboratory analysis revealing an undetectable β-HCG of &lt;1.20 IU/L (reference interval 0–4). Case two: A middle-aged woman presented to the emergency department with mons pubis pain and swelling and was admitted to the gynaecology ward for drainage of bilateral abscesses. On review, she had raised blood β-HCG levels, measured using the Abbott i-STAT POCT device. A subsequent blood sample sent for laboratory analysis showed β-HCG levels within the post-menopausal reference interval. Discussion: In both cases, POCT immunoassay interference was confirmed by consistent results produced when contemporaneous samples were analysed by different analytical platforms. Immunoassay interference, though rare, can lead to inaccurate results from POCT devices, potentially impacting patient diagnosis and management. Clinical teams should remain vigilant for this possibility; if test results do not align with clinical expectations, it is essential to promptly send a blood sample for laboratory analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1177/00045632261433346
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 4
        StartPage: 458
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: False positive error
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Point-of-care testing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Maternal health services
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Laboratory techniques
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Laparoscopy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Chorionic gonadotropins
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: False-positive point-of-care urine beta human chorionic gonadotropin testing: Insights from two clinical cases.
        Type: main
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      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Dissanayake, Gayani Nilmini
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            NameFull: Fourie, Hanine
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            NameFull: Fricker, Gordana
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            NameFull: Thayabaran, Darmiga
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            NameFull: Patel, Mayur
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            NameFull: Granne, Ingrid
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            NameFull: Shine, Brian
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            – D: 01
              M: 09
              Text: Sep2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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              Value: 63
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          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Annals of Clinical Biochemistry
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