There are two types of pregnancy tests; one uses a urine sample, the other a sample of blood. Both pregnancy tests detect the presence of a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This hormone is produced by the placenta shortly after the embryo attaches to the uterine lining and builds up rapidly in your body in the first few days of pregnancy. It is this rapid shift in hormones that trigger most of your pregnancysymptoms.
Types of Pregnancy Tests
Urine Tests
Urine tests can be performed in two different ways and these can be performed at home or in a clinic. One way involves collecting your urine in a cup and dipping a stick into the urine or putting urine into a special container with an eyedropper. Another option involves placing a stick into your urine stream and catching your urine in midstream.
Tests vary in how long you have to wait to get a result. You will be lookingfor a change in color, a line, or a symbol (like a plus or minus). The newerdigital pregnancy test offered by Clearblue Easy makes reading your results simple: the window will either showthe words “not pregnant” or “pregnant”.
All tests come with instructions, and it is important that you follow these instructions to get an accurate reading.
How soon can I take a urine test?
Most doctors recommend that you wait until the first day of yourmissed period before taking a urine pregnancy test. This is usuallyabout two weeks after conception. However, some tests are more sensitivethan others and can be taken earlier.
How accurate are urine tests?
Urine tests or home pregnancy tests are around 97% accurate whendone correctly. Home pregnancy tests are great to use because they can be done at home,they are usually low in cost (anywhere from $7.99 to $19.99), private, theygive a fast result, and are easy to use.
However, if done incorrectly ortaken too early, the result can be inaccurate. If you get a negative result and still have symptomsof pregnancy (missed period, nausea, breast tenderness, and fatigue),wait a week and take another test or contact your doctor so you canhave a blood test done.
Blood Tests
There are two types of blood tests. A quantitative blood testmeasures the exact amount of hCG in the blood, and a qualitativehCG blood test gives a simple yes or no answer to whetheryou are pregnant or not.
Advantages of having a blood test done:
- Can detect a pregnancy earlier than a urinetest at about 7-12 days from possible conception (but if a negativeresult is received, a test should be repeated if a period is missed.)
- Can measure the concentration of hCG hormonein your blood (this is useful information for your healthcare providerin tracking certain problems in pregnancy)
Disadvantages of having a blood test done:
- More expensive than a urine test (price depends on the cost of doctor’s visit and lab fees)
- Takes longer to get the result
- Must be done in a doctor’s office
Frequently Asked Questions About Pregnancy Tests
If I get a positive result on a home pregnancy test, does that meanI am pregnant?
A positive result from a home pregnancy test shows the presenceof the hormone hCG in your system. When an egg is implanted in a woman’suterine lining, hCG hormones begin to develop and multiply. This isa sign that you have become pregnant.
If I get a negative result on a home pregnancy test, does that meanI am not pregnant?
A negative result can mean that you are not pregnant, you took thetest too early, or you took the test wrong. Pregnancy tests vary intheir sensitivity (how soon they can detect the hormone hCG), andyou may not have given your body enough time to produce enough hCGhormones that will show up on the test.
Also, if you let a test sitfor too long (after the instructions on the box tell you), the testis invalid. It is best to follow the instructions and wait until youhave missed a period before taking the test. Most pregnancy testscome with two in a box, and it is a good idea to take both.
How soon can I take a home pregnancy test?
It is recommended that you wait until you have missed a period totake a home test. A missed period is often one of the first signsof pregnancy. If you cannot wait that long to find out and youknow the day you may have conceived, then the earliest you can takea test would be 14 days from possible conception.
What if I take a couple of home pregnancy tests and get differentanswers?
If you have received different answers on multiple pregnancy tests,it is recommended that you get a blood test done to get an accurateanswer.
Want to Know More?
- Things to Know About Ovulation
- Track Your Ovulation
- Are You Trying to Get Pregnant
- Preconception for Women
- Signs of Ovulation
Compiled using information from the following sources:
1. MedlinePlus [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Libraryof Medicine (US); Prenatal Testing.
2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
