Human Placental Lactogen (hPL)

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB1232195, Beaker: HUMAN PLACEN, Quest: 504

Department

Send Outs

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: One plain Red-top tube.

Do NOT use Serum Separator (SST) tubes.

Critical FROZEN.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Let specimen clot 30 minutes then centrifuge at 3000 RPM for 10 minutes. Separate serum and place in transfer tube. Freeze(-20°C/-4°F or below) immediately.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 1.0 mL serum, frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below). (Minimum: 0.5 mL)

Rejection Criteria

Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

Let specimen clot 30 minutes then centrifuge at 3000 RPM for 10 minutes. Separate serum and place in transfer tube. Freeze(-20°C/-4°F or below) immediately.

Transport: 1.0 mL serum, frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below). (Minimum: 0.5 mL) 

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 4 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 24 hours
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 90 days

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Specimen retention time is determined by the policy of the reference laboratory. Contact the Send Outs Laboratory with any questions.

Laboratory

Sent to Quest Diagnostics, Wood Dale, IL.

Performed

Friday. 
Results available in 7-14 days.

Reference Range

Males & Non-Pregnant Females	0.00-0.10 mcg/mL
1st Trimester	0.20-2.10 mcg/mL
2nd Trimester	0.50-6.70 mcg/mL
3rd Trimester	4.50-12.80 mcg/mL

Test Methodology

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)

Interpretation

By report.

Clinical Utility

Human Placental Lactogen (hPL) – Human placental lactogen (hPL; chorionic somatomammotropin) is a 21,000 KD polypeptide produced during pregnancy by placental trophoblastic cells. The level of hPL in maternal serum is directly related to placental function and fetal well-being.

hPL is detected at about 6 weeks after conception and its concentration increases gradually to peak levels (without decreases) until about the 34th week where it remains stable for the remainder of the pregnancy. Consistently low levels throughout pregnancy or a sudden drop in serial determinations are an indication of fetal distress. After normal delivery, the hPL concentration falls rapidly to an undetectable level.

The hPL levels in serum of women with multiple placenta pregnancies generally exceeds that of single placenta pregnancies. This is generally noted from the 2nd trimester to delivery.

CPT Codes

83632

Contacts

Last Updated

12/17/2025