How accurate are home pregnancy tests?
Home pregnancy tests (HPTs) can be quite accurate. But the accuracy depends on: • How you use them — Be sure to check the expiration date and follow the instructions. Wait ten minutes after taking the test to check the results window. Research suggests that waiting 10 minutes will give the most accurate result. • When you use them — The amount of hCG or pregnancy hormone in your urine increases with time. So, the earlier after a missed period you take the test, the harder it is to spot the hCG. Many HPTs claim to be 99 percent accurate on the first day of your missed period. But research suggests that most HPTs do not always detect the low levels of hCG usually present this early in pregnancy. And when they do, the results are often very faint. Most HPTs can accurately detect pregnancy one week after a missed period. Also, testing your urine first thing in the morning may boost the accuracy. • Who uses them — Each woman ovulates at a different time in her menstrual cycle. Plus, the fer
Most home pregnancy tests claim to be 99 percent accurate and imply that you can use them successfully as early as the first day of a missed menstrual period, but new research indicates these claims are misleading. In fact, a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) found that only one of the 18 brands of home pregnancy tests (HPTs) tested was sensitive enough to detect pregnancy at this time.
Home pregnancy tests measure the presence of the hormone hCG in a woman’s urine. HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is a glycoprotein hormone secreted by the developing placenta shortly after fertilization. Most doctors recommend that you wait until the first day of your missed period before taking a home pregnancy pregnancy test. This is usually about two weeks after conception. However, some pregnancy tests are more sensitive than others and can be taken earlier. Home pregnancy tests are around 97% accurate when done correctly. The sensitivity of a pregnancy test determines how soon after conception, pregnancy can be detected by the diagnostic kit. Concentrations of hCG are reported in milliInternational Units (mIU) or amounts equal to 1/1000th of an IU per milliliter. Pregnancy tests with a sensitivity of 20 mIU/ml are more sensitive than tests with 50 to 100 mIU/ml. Tests which can detect levels of hCG as low as 20 – 25 mIU/ml tests are ideal for early detection of pregnancy. That
I’m anxious to conceive and recently quit the pill (low dosage) after six years. I have had one regular period since I quit and calculated that my ovulation should have been last week. This morning I woke up with spotting, but my period isn’t due until next week. Please explain about spotting after ovulation and conception. Also, if I miss my period next week, how soon will a home pregnancy test be accurate?
