Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), a polypeptide hormone produced by the human placenta, is composed of an alpha and a beta sub-unit. The alpha sub-unit is essentially identical to the alpha sub-units of the human pituitary gonadotropins, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), as well as to the alpha sub-unit of human thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). The beta sub-units of these hormones differ in amino acid sequence. Chorionic gonadotropin is obtained from the human pregnancy urine. It is standardized by a biological assay procedure.
Chorionic Gonadotropin for Injection, USP is available in multiple dose vials containing 10,000 USP units with accompanying Bacteriostatic Water for Injection for reconstitution. When reconstituted with 10 mL of the accompanying diluent each vial contains:
Buffered with dibasic sodium phosphate and monobasic sodium phosphate. Hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide may have been used for pH adjustment (6.0-8.0). Nitrogen gas is used in the freeze drying process.