

have any bleeding after a positive pregnancy test.Providers will perform blood tests for patients who: Sometimes your primary care or OBGYN provider will perform a blood test at their office, if needed. OBGYN providers recommend taking a second test in a few days, either at home or at your provider’s office, no matter the results of the first test.

When you use the test - hCG increases with time, so the earlier in your cycle you take the test, the harder it can be to detect a pregnancy.Check with a pharmacist to see which brand may be best for your needs. The brand of the test - some tests are more sensitive than others.The expiration date – the chemicals used to detect hCG do have a shelf life, so taking a test after its expiration date may result in a false negative.Tests read before then may not have enough time to show a positive result, and tests read after then may be read incorrectly due to “evaporation lines”, which are often mistaken for a positive result. Following directions correctly – the most accurate results are ready about 10 minutes after taking a test.Most pregnancy tests claim to be 99 percent accurate, but that accuracy can depend on: Some test options will clearly say “Pregnant,” or “Not Pregnant,” while others have lines indicating the results, but all at-home tests work in essentially the same way to detect a pregnancy. When you’re considering an at-home test, think about what day you’d like to test (early, or after a missed period), and know how you’d like to read the results. Types of testsĪt-home pregnancy tests use your urine to detect hCG. Typically, your hCG levels rise about 6-10 days after fertilization and double every 2 to 3 days. Pregnancy tests check your urine or blood for a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which is made after a fertilized egg has attached to the wall of your uterus. These tests are about 99 percent accurate, and help to prepare you for what comes next.īeth Fjeldheim is a Certified Nurse-Midwife with Rochester Regional Health and describes how these tests work and what to expect.

Either way, you want the most accurate results as quickly as possible.Ī pregnancy test can let you know if you are pregnant, and many can give you results before a missed period, or within a matter of minutes. You may be eagerly awaiting a positive pregnancy test or hoping for a negative response.
