Home Pregnancy Tests
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There are many different home pregnancy tests on the market today, ranging from extremely inexpensive to about $20. The price of the test typically depends upon the brand as well as the number of tests that come with the box.
Regardless of brand, most home pregnancy tests work in the same way. The purpose behind the test is to determine whether the pregnancy hormone is present in the urine or not. While most home pregnancy tests work by holding a special stick in the urine stream, there are also some tests that work by collecting urine inside a special cup and then dipping a special stick into the cup of urine.
Although most pregnancy tests can be conducted at any time of the day, the best chances for accuracy occur in the first urination of the morning because this is when the pregnancy hormone has the highest concentration, providing more accurate results. In addition, most home pregnancy tests indicate that the test can be performed on the first day of a missed period, but this may not actually provide completely accurate results. The accuracy of the test depends upon being able to detect the pregnancy hormone. This may be difficult very early in the pregnancy if the test is not very sensitive. As a result, the most reliable results can usually be had one week after a missed period.
A home pregnancy test provides results within a few minutes. Each brand typically indicates the appropriate amount of time to wait before reading the results. There are typically two windows on a home pregnancy test. One is a result window and the other is a control window. If a plus sign or line appears in the result window, this is an indication of pregnancy. The line may be faint or dark but if there is a line in the result window, then the test indicates pregnancy. The control window indicates that the test has been performed correctly. A line or symbol will appear to indicate that the test is working properly. If there is no line or symbol present in the control window, the test is not working properly and should be discarded.
It should be kept in mind that even if the test is negative this does not necessarily indicate that you are not pregnant. In some cases it may simply have been too early in the pregnancy for the pregnancy hormone to be detected. Most tests indicate that you should test again in a few days if your period has still not started and/or if you still suspect that you are pregnant.
Home pregnancy tests can be quite accurate but there are several elements that can affect the accuracy of home pregnancy tests. The test must be performed accurately, according to the directions and the test must be performed before the expiration date on the package. The time when the test is performed can also affect the accuracy of the test as well. The pregnancy hormone increases as the pregnancy progresses, so the longer you wait after a missed period, the more accurate the test will be.
It should also be noted that every woman's pregnancy hormone levels are different. Some women will have higher levels earlier in their pregnancies than other women. Finally, it should be noted that the brand of the test can affect accuracy as well. Some home pregnancy tests are simply more sensitive than other brands and will therefore provide more accurate results earlier than other tests.
Remember that if you do use a home pregnancy test and receive a positive result you should contact your physician as soon as possible.
