Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is there a kit available to prepare the specimen?

There is NO KIT provided by the Navarro Medical Clinic to prepare for the specimen. All of the necessary materials are household items and can be purchased from the pharmacy or hardware or paint store. Please see (the link for HCG Specimen Preparation.)


2. Can I wait 1 or 2 hours before mixing the fresh urine with the acetone and alcohol solution or does it has to be mix immediately?

You can let the urine sit for a few hours before testing. It is best to work on it as soon as it has been collected since some patients tend to forget this in the fridge and may end up leaving the specimen in the fridge for more than 24 hours without mixing and this affects the testing status of the specimen. A new one will need to be collected.


3. How can I make sure that the sediments will go to the coffee filter when I pour it?

Before pouring the mixtures over the filter, throw off half of the mixture without disturbing the sediments at the bottom. Then shake the rest of the mixture until the sediments gets blended with the liquid mixture. Then pour the mixture gently into the filter paper. There may be a situation when you will need to scoop up the sediments from the container, use a sterile spoon.


4. Can I use the Nail Polish Remover in substitution for the Acetone?

NO.


5. My specimen was sitting in the refrigerator for over 6 hours, is it still OK?

YES, it is OK


6. I was not able to mail my specimen and it was sitting for 2 weeks, is it still OK to send it?

NO, create a new one. By the time it reaches the clinic it could be a month since it was created. Note that the specimen is ONLY GOOD FOR A MONTH.


7. How soon will I hear from the Clinic regarding the test result?

Normally it takes 2 ½ - 3 weeks, you will obtain the test results thru your email. And for those without any email address, 4-5 weeks.


8. What is the best method of sending the specimen?

Use the First Class International Air Mail.


9. How would I know if my payment was received?

You can include a note with your payment requesting an acknowledgment of the receipt with your email address, Patient Name and Address.


10. Do I need to send the payment first before sending the specimen?

You can send the specimen and your payment at the same day. Most of the time the payment is received before the specimen. The clinic is well aware and updated about the payment and your specimen is processed accordingly.


11. Can I send a payment check for multiple patients?

YES and please state the Patient’s names.


12. What are the acceptable payment methods?

There are several methods acceptable. Please see our page on Payment Methods


13. How would I find out the Status of my Specimen?

If after 3 weeks you have not received any response from the clinic, please email to test.result@NavarroMedicalClinic.com stating when the specimen was sent, Patient Name and Address. You can also check your Junk Mail Folder or Spam Folder. It is possible that the email response was placed into those folders.


14. If a woman has gone through menopause does it matter if they abstain from sexual activity for 12 days before collecting a urine sample for the HCG test? Could you explain why it matters if a person (man or woman) has had sex or not before collecting a sample?

Yes, it does matter because seminal fluid can contaminate the urine and it takes at least two weeks for the uterus to clean itself of seminal fluid. Of course, abstinence from sexual activity will prevent seminal contamination.


15. How does sexual intercourse alter the results of the test, such that women must refrain for 12 days prior and men three? Does this rule apply to penetration only, leaving the door open for oral sex? Exactly what will happen to the female specimen if the rule is not followed; and the male specimen also?

It takes at least 7 to 12 days for the female genital tract to clear seminal fluid and if the sample was taken 3 days after sexual contact, it may cause a false positive result. One cannot tell whether the HCG is coming from the cancer cell or the seminal fluid. In men, it takes a shorter time to clear the passage ways, at least 2 to 3 days. I have seen one patient submitting his urine less than a day from sexual contact and the result came out positive. Thus if the man has cancer, one cannot tell if the HCG is coming from the cancer or seminal fluid.


16. My index only have a +4 and not a +/- 4. Is 52.2 a high number? How high does it usually get and how low does it usually get when one is in remission?

It is still an index of +4 because the result is still above 50 IU. An index of +4 means that the result is above 50 IU and is positive. An index of +/-3 means that the result is below 50 IU and is essentially negative. Levels can reach up to 10,000 int. units or more especially in testicular cancer, some uterine cancers (H mole and choriocarcinoma) and germ cell tumor. However, most other cancers including thymic cancers have results anywhere from 50 to 80 or 90 IU. The test cannot stage the cancer but when done serially like once a month, one can monitor the progress of the condition. Patients in remission have readings below 50 IU.


17. What is the difference between this Navarro HCG Test and the usual HCG Serum Test?

The Navarro HCG Test uses urine as the specimen. In serum HCG testing, blood is used. Sometimes, the serum test can have negative result. This may be explained by the fact that when the HCG molecules travel to the liver, enzymes act on them and fragment the HCG molecules. The reagent is usually for the whole HCG molecule and the reagent may not be able to identify the HCG due to its fragmented nature. As for the Navarro HCG Test, the kidney is able to pool a higher amount of whole HCG molecules and when the urine sample is tested using the whole molecule reagent, the result is usually positive.