What is a pregnancy test?
What are the types of pregnancy tests?
And how accurate is it?
What is the best time to take a home pregnancy test?
The answers are in this report.
What is a pregnancy test?
A pregnancy test measures a hormone in the body called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG).
And "HCG" is a hormone produced during pregnancy, and appears in the blood and urine of a pregnant woman as early as 10 days after fertilization, according to the MedlinePlus database of the National Library of Health in the United States.
How does a pregnancy test work?
When you take a pregnancy test, it looks for the amount of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in your body.
You can find HCG in your urine or blood.
However, this chemical takes time to build up in your body, which can result in a very early pregnancy test result being negative, according to the Cleveland Clinic website.
Each day of early pregnancy, your body will produce more hCG.
As the weeks go by, you will have more and more hCG in your body, which increases the likelihood of a pregnancy test coming back as positive.
Pregnancy tests work by reacting to the amount of hCG in the urine or blood.
In a urine test, a piece of reactive paper detects the hormone "hCG".
This may then appear as a plus sign, double vertical lines, or even the word "pregnant".
Various tests will show a positive result in unique ways.
Read the instructions that come with the test to find out what a positive result will look like.
How is the test performed?
A pregnancy test is done using blood or urine.
What is the home pregnancy test?
A home pregnancy test is a urine pregnancy test that is performed by placing a drop of urine on a test strip.
What types of blood tests for pregnancy?
A qualitative test, which measures whether or not the hormone "hCG" is present.
Quantitative test, which measures how much hCG is present.
A blood test is done by drawing one tube of blood and sending it to a laboratory.
How is a urine pregnancy test done?
The urine HCG test is often done by placing a drop of urine on a prepared chemical strip.
It takes 1-2 minutes to get a result.
What is the effectiveness of home pregnancy test?
According to most manufacturers, home pregnancy tests are 99% effective when used as directed.
This is about the same as the accuracy rate for urine tests that are performed in your health care provider's office.
These tests are available at most drugstores or grocery stores and do not require a prescription.
It is important to read the instructions in these tests before performing them.
What are the steps of home pregnancy analysis?
When you go for a home pregnancy test, you will usually put one to several drops of urine on a prepared chemical strip or insert the strip into your urethra.
The tape is specially designed to detect "HCG".
For many of these tests, hCG can be detected in urine about 10 days after "conception."
What is the best time to take a pregnancy test?
The best time is in the morning, as it is recommended to use your first urine in the morning when possible.
This is the time of day when your hCG levels are most concentrated and easily detectable.
If you do this at another time of the day, try to make sure that urine stays in your bladder for at least 4 hours.
Is there any specific advice before taking a home pregnancy test?
Do not drink large amounts of fluids before taking a pregnancy test.
Many people think this will increase urine volume, but it can also lower hCG levels.
Read the instructions that come with the test well before starting the test, and follow each step carefully.
Which of the two tests is more accurate... a urine or blood pregnancy test?
Blood tests are a little more sensitive than urine tests, because they can detect very small levels of hCG.
This means that a more accurate answer can be provided very early in pregnancy within 9 to 12 days after conception.
When should a pregnancy test be done?
If you think you might be pregnant, it's a good idea to get tested and be sure.
If you are pregnant, you will need to start prenatal care.
Home pregnancy tests can vary in time when they detect pregnancy early.
In many cases, you may get a positive result from a home test as early as 10 days after conception.
What are the advantages of using a home pregnancy test?
inexpensive.
easy to use.
Home tests provide results quickly.
According to the manufacturers of pregnancy kits, most home pregnancy tests are 97% to 99% accurate when used as directed.
Positive results can be trusted, but you can get a false negative result very early in pregnancy.
In contrast, blood tests tend to be more expensive, and for many women, waiting for an appointment can be difficult.
Home tests allow you to find out if you are pregnant soon after conception.
Are all home pregnancy test methods the same?
Most brands of home pregnancy tests are reliable.
Although the exact test method for different pregnancy tests can vary from one type to another;
They are all looking for the hormone "hCG" in your body.
Are there any medications that can change the result of my pregnancy test?
For the most part, medications don't change pregnancy test results.
The main reason behind a false negative result (ie you are pregnant but the test says you are not pregnant) is the test too early.
You may also get a false negative result if you use a home test incorrectly.
It's important to follow the directions on your test kit to make sure you get an accurate result.
However, fertility drugs are one exception.
These medications can sometimes cause a false positive result on a pregnancy test.
If you're taking fertility drugs, communicate with your healthcare provider about your results to make sure they are accurate.