Pregnancy Test Accuracy After Missed Period

Can you trust home pregnancy tests?

Trying to find out if you are pregnant can be a nerve wracking experience, filled with anticipation and the unknown, doubly so if you’re not even sure you can trust the results of a your home pregnancy kit.

Knowing when and how to use home tests can help you get the best chance of an accurate reading, but of course to be 100% sure you should always speak to a medical professional.

When should I use a home testing kit?

Some pregnancy kits claim to be able to accurately determine if you are pregnant from as early as a single day after a missed period but in truth they are only really accurate several days to a week after a missed period. At the start of a pregnancy many women develop pregnancy hormones at different times, and a negative result shortly after you have missed a period does not necessarily mean that you are not pregnant.

Are there any differences between home kits?

Most home pregnancy testing kits are very similar, some are more sensitive than others but generally they all work on the same principle. You either immerse the tip of the tester in your urine stream, or container of collected urine for a certain amount of time, and then there will be some kind of visible change, either a plus/minus sign, change of color or reveal the words positive/negative etc.

Some kits are easier to use than others, if you are not sure you can always try another brand, many women like to do at least 2 tests from two different kits to be on the safe side. Make sure you follow the instructions that came with your kit carefully.

How do home testing kits detect if I am pregnant?

When a fertilized egg attaches to the lining of your uterus your body will begin to produce a specific hormone called “human chorionic gonadotropin” (HCG), the levels of this hormone increase very quickly during the first two weeks of pregnancy and home testing kits work by detecting HCG in your urine.

Home testing kits can reliably detect this after several days to a week depending on their sensitivity. More accurate blood tests can be performed by your doctor which can detect HCG earlier than one week.

How accurate are the results of home kits?

Most home testing kits claim 99% accuracy or better on the first day of a missed period, research and testing suggests that a lot of kits cannot always detect pregnancy this early, but when used one week after a missed period they are very accurate as long as you follow the instructions properly. If you do need to know sooner then you should arrange an appointment with your doctor.

Are false readings common?

False positives are very rare, they can occur if you have traces of protein or blood in your urine. Some prescription drugs can cause false positives so check with your doctor to be sure if you are taking medicines. Using out of date or damaged kits can also give unreliable results.

It is more common to get a false negative, especially if you take the the test very soon after a missed period, or do not follow the instructions and timings properly. False negatives can also occur if you have very diluted urine, the best time to take a test is first thing in the morning.

What to do if my home testing kit says I am pregnant?

If your home pregnancy test shows a positive result then you should book an appointment with your doctor to confirm the results. The sooner it is confirmed the sooner you can begin preparing and start prenatal care.

About the Author

Author of the pregnancy and basal charting website Basal Digital Thermometer

I also have a bit of a thing for collecting shoes and Wooden Shoe Racks

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