When will a pregnancy test be accurate

For a start, confirm your suspicion by buying an over-the-counter urine pregnancy test kit. There are many brands of pregnancy test kits available in the market, which are quite reliable. These are available at our local pharmacies. Alternatively, you could go to your doctor for a test.​ 

What is a Pregnancy Test Kit? 

During pregnancy, a hormone called human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) is produced, which circulates in the blood and is also present in the urine. 

The pregnancy test kit detects the presence of hCG in your urine. It is a qualitative test. Some pregnancy test kits are more sensitive than the others but most will be​ ​​​able to detect hCG between the fourth to fifth week of your pregnancy. This means that for those with regular cycles, the test should be positive once you have missed your period by a few days. 

Although almost all over-the counter pregnancy test kits detect pregnancy by measuring hCG in the urine, you have to read the instructions for the test kit because instructions for usage are different for different test kits. 

An indicator will show if you are pregnant. For example, some kits will show two bold lines if positive (Figure 6.2) and one bold line if negative (Figure 6.3). These indicators are different for various kits.​

​How Accurate are the Pregnancy Test Kits? 

Pregnancy tests are rarely wrong. It is more than 99% accurate. Thus, if your test is negative, it means that you are not pregnant; However, if you are very early in your pregnancy and the test is done too early, there could be insufficient amount of hCG in the urine for the test to detect. 

So, if a test comes back negative but you strongly suspect that you are pregnant, repeat the test in a few days’ time. 

There are rare examples when the hCG level is raised transiently and then drops to zero. This is known as “biochemical pregnancy” and could be the cause of a false positive result of the test kit. This initial rise of hCG levels would soon drop in “biochemical pregnancy” and result in a negative test result. Vaginal bleeding occurs soon after, which would coincide with “delayed menses”. Also rarely, there could be occasional ovarian tumors which secrete hCG and the false positive result could be wrongly interpreted as a pregnancy.​ 

​​​Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I have to test with first morning urine? 

Although you can test any time of the day, your first morning urine specimen is usually the most concentrated of the day and would have the most pregnancy hormones in it. 

2. When should I take the test if I suspect that I am pregnant? 

You can test your urine as early as six days past ovulation but the first day of your missed period is recommended for greatest accuracy. 

3. Do I need a blood test for hCG to confirm my pregnancy? 

Blood tests for hCG are more accurate in detecting HCG and they can also measure the actual levels of the hormone. These tests may be useful to differentiate a miscarriage when the blood hCG will drop with time or a healthy pregnancy when the blood hCG level will double every two days. Occasionally, we need to follow-up the hCG levels to help us diagnose an early ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy that is ​outside the womb), which could be potentially life-threatening or confirm a miscarriage.

Acknowledgement

Source: Dr TAN Thiam Chye, Dr TAN Kim Teng, Dr TAN Heng Hao, Dr TEE Chee Seng John, The New Art and Science of Pregnancy and Childbirth, World Scientific 2008.

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For many people, the decision of when to take a pregnancy test can be a major source of anxiety. Sometimes the stress is because you want to be pregnant. Sometimes it’s because you don’t want to be.

Regardless of whether you’re hoping for a negative or a positive result, taking an early test may seem like a good way to find out if you’re pregnant right away. Unfortunately, early testing may give you a negative result, even if you are pregnant.

It's important to take the test at the right time to maximize your chance of getting an accurate reading. Learn the best time to take a pregnancy test in order to get the most accurate result, as well as the risks associated with testing too early.

How Early Can You Take a Pregnancy Test?

The best time to take a pregnancy test is after your period is late. This will help you avoid false negatives. The earliest you should test is one day after you expected your period to start. Keep in mind that the earlier you test, the more likely you are to get a false negative, even if you are pregnant. If you're not already keeping a fertility calendar, proper pregnancy test timing is a good reason to start one.

If your cycles are irregular or you don’t chart your cycles, do not take a test until you have passed the longest menstrual cycle you usually have. For example, if your cycles range from 30 to 36 days, the best time to take a test would be day 37 or later.

Something else to consider is whether you know if your period is even late. According to the FDA, out of every 100 people, between 10 and 20 will not get a positive pregnancy test result on the day they think is just after their missed period, even if they are pregnant.

Tests labeled for early pregnancy detection may be able to detect a pregnancy several days before your expected period. However, the most accurate results come after your period is late.

The Best Time of Day to Take a Pregnancy Test

The time of day you take a pregnancy test does matter to a certain extent. You’re more likely to get an accurate result if you take the test in the morning. This is especially true if your period is not yet late, or if your period is only a couple days late.

At-home pregnancy tests work by detecting the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in your urine. Unless you get up in the night to pee often (or you drink water throughout the night), your urine is more concentrated when you first wake up. This usually means that the amount of hCG is a bit higher, and you’re more likely to get a positive result if you’re pregnant.

However, you can still take a pregnancy test in the middle of the day, or even at night. You’re just more likely to get a false negative, especially if your period isn’t that late, and especially if you’ve been drinking a lot of water and your urine is diluted.

Taking a Pregnancy Test Because of Symptoms

You may decide to take a pregnancy test because you are having early pregnancy symptoms. But keep in mind, the same hormones that cause pregnancy-like symptoms are present every month between ovulation and your period. Many symptoms similar to pregnancy symptoms can have other causes, like a cold, the flu, or even a few nights of poor sleep.

Early Signs of Pregnancy

• Breast tenderness
• Frequent urination
• Mild cramps (sometimes called “implantation cramps”)
• Very light spotting (sometimes called “implantation spotting”)
• Fatigue
• Sensitivity to smells
• Food cravings or aversions
• Metallic taste
• Headaches
• Mood swings
• Slight morning nausea

Depending on whether a positive pregnancy test would be good or bad news, symptoms like these may fill you with dread—or excitement. But here’s the good (or bad) news: pregnancy symptoms do not mean you are pregnant. In fact, you can feel pregnant and not be pregnant, or not feel pregnant when you really are expecting.

How Do Pregnancy Tests Work?

Knowing how pregnancy tests work can help you understand when to take them. Pregnancy tests relay how urine reacts with a piece of paper that can detect the presence of hCG. Results are usually shown as a single or double line or a plus or minus sign.

An at-home pregnancy test can't measure the exact amount of pregnancy hormone in your urine. What it can do is detect whether a minimum amount is present.

Getting a negative pregnancy test result doesn't mean your urine doesn't contain the pregnancy hormone (hCG). It just means it doesn't contain enough to trigger a positive result.

"Early results" pregnancy tests promise results as soon as three to six days before your missed period. These tests are more sensitive than standard tests, but getting accurate results that early is more difficult simply because ovulation and implantation times can vary. If you have irregular periods, it can be even more difficult to know when might be an accurate time to try an early test.

If you're having fertility treatments, be aware that this may result in a false positive pregnancy test, especially those performed early. That's because pregnancy tests may detect the remains of fertility medications like Ovidrel, Pregnyl, or Novarel.

The 6 Best Pregnancy Tests of 2022

How Accurate Are Pregnancy Tests?

If you read the instructions carefully, most tests promise 99% accuracy on the day of your missed period—but not for early results. If you expect your period on Wednesday, Thursday would be the day of your missed period. Tests tend to be more accurate after your missed period. Likewise, first morning urine may be more concentrated and detect hCG more accurately.

Variables Affecting Accuracy

Keep in mind that the test's accuracy can depend on several variables. These include:

• When in your cycle you take the test
• The timing of ovulation
• How closely you follow the directions
• The time of day you test
  

Efficacy of Early Testing

If you are considering taking a test before your period is late, it is important to consider the pros and cons before you do. Not only could it be expensive to take pregnancy tests too early, but it also could give you inaccurate results.

Pro

• Chance of getting a positive result

• If positive, relieves some of the stress during the two-week wait

• Useful if you need to start or stop medications or other early interventions

• Allows you to begin lifestyle adjustments right away

Con

• Higher chance of a false negative result

• Feelings of disappointment with negative result

• Expense

• Not accurate with hCG trigger shots such as Ovidrel

The Best Early Test

If you still want to take an early test, despite the possible downsides, you may want to consider a test with a proven track record. According to research, the First Response Early Result (FRER) manual test is the best early pregnancy test on the market now.

The digital test, First Response Gold Digital Pregnancy Test, had previously been reported as less accurate. However, according to a 2013 FDA comparison between the two, the results show the same accuracy.

This pregnancy test has clearance from the FDA to say it can detect pregnancy hormones 6 days before your missed period. That is 5 days before your period is due. There are plenty of other early pregnancy tests on the market. Which one is right for you may depend on factors like cost, result speed, and whether you prefer digital or paper tests.

When to Get a Blood Pregnancy Test

You might be wondering if you should also have a blood test to check if you are pregnant. Your doctor may order a test, or you may be thinking about ordering one yourself. Many labs now allow people to order and pay out of pocket for blood work.

Before you do that, there are a few things you should know. First, there are two types of pregnancy blood tests: qualitative and quantitative.

• Qualitative tests measure whether hCG is present in your blood or urine. They pretty much give a yes or no answer as to whether you’re pregnant—or, more accurately, whether you have enough pregnancy hormone to get a positive result. Home pregnancy tests are qualitative.
• Quantitative pregnancy tests measure the amount of pregnancy hormone in your blood. This is sometimes called a beta hCG test. These are usually done to see how a pregnancy is progressing. For example, your doctor may order two beta hCG tests a few days apart to see whether the level of hCG is increasing as expected or not. This might be important if you had trouble conceiving, have a history of early miscarriage, or an ectopic pregnancy is suspected.

Blood Test Result Timetable

Blood tests are able to detect a smaller amount of hCG and they can detect it slightly earlier than standard at-home pregnancy tests, usually nine to 12 days after conception. Blood test results are usually available the same day or within a day.

Blood tests aren't often done to detect pregnancy because they are expensive and at-home urine tests are quite accurate and sensitive. However, people who are undergoing fertility treatments may have blood tests as part of their care.

When a Blood Test Is Used

If your period is late by several days, and you’re still getting negative at-home pregnancy tests, a blood test may be recommended. While rare, it is possible to get a negative test result on an at-home test but still be pregnant. If this is your situation, call your doctor, and don’t just order a test on your own. There are other reasons besides pregnancy that your period may be late.  

You don’t necessarily need a blood test to confirm a positive at-home pregnancy test. If the at-home test said you’re pregnant, you’re likely pregnant. That said, your doctor might still order one, especially if you request it.

A Word From Verywell

The best time to take a pregnancy test is the day after your expected period and in the morning hours, with your first urine of the day. However, when you're anxious to see results, it's understandable if you are tempted to test earlier.

Before you reach for that early pregnancy test, carefully consider how you'll feel if the results are negative. If a negative test doesn't bother you, and you have the cash to spend on pregnancy tests, go ahead. If a negative result is going to make your heart ache or if you’d rather not waste money on extra tests, then wait until your period is late.

How soon will a pregnancy test read positive?

How long does it take for hCG to show up in urine?