No, because a positive result doesn't help differentiate whether a pregnancy is intra-uterine or not and a negative result doesn't exclude an ectopic so the clinical judgement has to be based on other information gained from history and examination. The only use of pregnancy tests in relation to assessment of possible ectopic is in serial measurements, which doesn't apply to making a decision about whether to admit someone with acute pain in the setting of OOH or a GP surgery IH.
----- Original Message ----
From: Julian Bradley [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Sunday, 24 February, 2008 10:31:14 PM
Subject: OOH Pregnancy Testing
Is it generally considered useful and appropriate for OOH clinicians
to have preg tests available and to use them on spot urine samples
(NOT EMU) to differentiate pain, eg. from an ectopic, from other
non-pregnancy related pains?
Any info / opinions welcomed.
Many thanks,
Julian
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