Clinical Assays for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin: What Should We Measure and How?

Within the last year, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) has been a topic of great discussion in both the scientific and popular press. Recent reports have demonstrated that because of hCG’s heterogeneity, assay standardization is an important problem, with different immunoassays giving different results for the same specimens. In addition there have been reports of falsenegative results due to high concentrations of certain hCG variants. Finally, the popular press has reported on illicit use of hCG by athletes for performance enhancement and by dieters for weight loss. In all, these publications raise questions about what variants of hCG are currently being measured, what should be measured, and how best to do it. In this Q&A article, 5 leaders in the field have been asked to comment on current clinical assays for hCG and what the future might hold.