Many couples who married in the winter wedding season start the new year with exciting news. Along with the joy comes a long list of tests from the gynaecologist, often handed over on a slip with little explanation.
This guide walks you through the pregnancy blood tests most women in Pakistan are offered, when they are done, and why each one matters.
Quick Answers
- A Beta HCG blood test can confirm pregnancy, usually by the time a period is missed.
- The first trimester booking tests cover anaemia, blood group, sugar, infections and thyroid.
- A sugar test at 24 to 28 weeks checks for gestational diabetes.
- CBC is usually repeated in the third trimester.
- Most pregnancy blood tests do not need fasting, except sugar tests.
Confirming Pregnancy: Beta HCG
A home urine kit is usually enough to detect pregnancy after a missed period. A Beta HCG blood test is more sensitive and gives an actual number.
In early pregnancy, HCG roughly doubles every 48 to 72 hours. Doctors sometimes repeat it two days apart to check that a pregnancy is progressing normally, especially after bleeding, pain, IVF or a previous miscarriage.
Your Pregnancy Tests at a Glance
| Stage | Usual blood tests |
|---|---|
| Confirming pregnancy | Beta HCG, around the time a period is missed |
| First trimester (up to 13 weeks) | CBC, blood group and Rh, blood sugar, urine routine, hepatitis B and C, HIV, syphilis, TSH; TORCH if advised |
| Second trimester (14 to 27 weeks) | Sugar screening at 24 to 28 weeks; CBC if anaemic; indirect Coombs if Rh negative |
| Third trimester (28 weeks onward) | Repeat CBC; urine protein if blood pressure rises |
First Trimester: The Booking Tests
The first antenatal visit usually comes with the biggest list of tests. Each one has a clear purpose.
- CBC: anaemia is common in pregnancy and easy to treat early
- Blood Group and Rh: Rh negative mothers need anti-D at the right time
- Blood sugar: high early sugar can mean undiagnosed diabetes
- Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C: the baby can be protected at birth
- HIV Screening and TPHA: treatment prevents most babies from being infected
- Serum TSH: thyroid hormone matters for the baby’s brain development
- Urine Routine: finds silent infections, protein and sugar
- TORCH Profile: only when your doctor advises
Many doctors also ask for a TSH test, because both underactive and overactive thyroid can affect pregnancy, and treatment is simple. TORCH testing (toxoplasma, rubella, CMV and herpes) is not routine for everyone; your doctor will advise if it is needed.
If you are Rh negative
If your blood group is negative (for example B negative) and your husband’s is positive, your doctor may check an Indirect Coombs test and give an anti-D injection around 28 weeks and after delivery. This protects future pregnancies.
Second Trimester: The Sugar Test
Pregnancy hormones make it harder for the body to use insulin. Some women develop gestational diabetes, usually between 24 and 28 weeks. It often causes no symptoms, but it can make the baby grow too large and raise risks at delivery.
There are two common approaches:
- Glucose Challenge Test (GCT): drink a 50 g glucose drink and give a blood sample after 1 hour. No fasting needed. See the GCT test page for how to prepare.
- Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT): fast overnight, give a sample, drink 75 g glucose, and give more samples over 2 hours. See the GTT test page for how to prepare.
If you had high sugar in a previous pregnancy, are overweight, have PCOS or a family history of diabetes, your doctor may test earlier.
Third Trimester: Final Checks
A repeat CBC around 28 to 32 weeks makes sure haemoglobin is high enough before delivery, when some blood loss is normal. If blood pressure rises, your doctor will check urine for protein and may order kidney and liver tests to look for pre-eclampsia.
Signs that need your doctor the same day
- Severe headache, blurred vision or swelling of face and hands
- Bleeding or leaking fluid
- Severe belly pain
- Baby moving much less than usual
- Fever, or burning when passing urine
Making Testing Easier During Pregnancy
Waiting in a busy lab with morning sickness is no fun. Book free home sampling and our phlebotomist can collect samples at your home anywhere in our Gujranwala service areas. For the GTT, which takes two hours, many mothers prefer to visit a branch and rest comfortably while they wait. You can find every branch address on our locations page.
Reports reach your WhatsApp, ready to show your gynaecologist.
Further reading: Prenatal Care (MedlinePlus).
Frequently Asked Questions
How early can a blood test detect pregnancy?
A Beta HCG blood test can often detect pregnancy about 10 to 12 days after conception, a few days before a missed period.
Do I need to fast for pregnancy tests?
Only for fasting sugar and GTT. CBC, blood group, hepatitis, HIV, TSH and Beta HCG do not need fasting.
What is a normal haemoglobin in pregnancy?
Most guidelines consider 11 g/dL or above normal in the first and third trimesters, and 10.5 g/dL or above in the second.
Is the TORCH test necessary?
Not for every woman. Your doctor may advise it based on your history or ultrasound findings.
Are blood tests safe for my baby?
Yes. Taking a small blood sample from the mother’s arm does not affect the baby in any way.
This guide is general health information from the City Care Lab team in Gujranwala. It does not replace advice from your own doctor.