Home Pregnancy Test Information

A home pregnancy test helps you determine whether you are pregnant or not. There are several types of home pregnancy tests that can be bought at a grocery store or pharmacy.

What is being tested?

A home pregnancy test detects the presence of a hormone in your urine. The hormone is produced by cells of the placenta (human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG). The placenta is the organ that forms to nourish and support a developing baby.

How are pregnancy tests done?

Home pregnancy tests require a urine sample.

• Most kits use a plastic testing device with a strip of paper that indicates whether there is hCG in your urine.
• Follow the test package instructions very carefully for how to test your urine. Depending on the test, you may need to:
  • Urinate directly onto the stick.
  • Urinate into a cup.
• Wait for the results as directed by the package instructions. The amount of time may be different for each type of test.
• Follow the test package instructions for how to read your test results. Depending on the test, results may be displayed as:
  • A plus or a minus sign.
  • One or two lines.
  • “Pregnant” or “not pregnant.”
• For best results, use your first urine of the morning. That is when the concentration of hCG is highest.

How accurate are home pregnancy tests?

Home pregnancy tests are very accurate when:

• You are at least 3–4 weeks pregnant.
• It has been 1–2 weeks since your missed period.
• You use the test according to the package instructions.

What can interfere with home pregnancy test results?

Sometimes, a home pregnancy test may report that you are pregnant when you are not pregnant (false-positive result). This can happen if you:

• Are taking certain medicines, such as:
  • Medicine to control seizures.
  • Anti-anxiety medicine.
  • Fertility medicine with hCG.
• Have a medical condition that affects your hormone levels.
• Had a recent pregnancy loss (miscarriage) or abortion.

Sometimes, a home pregnancy test may report that you are not pregnant when you are pregnant (false-negative result). This can happen if you:

• Took the test too early in your pregnancy. Before 3–4 weeks of pregnancy, there may not be enough hCG to detect.
• Drank a lot of liquid before the test.
• Used an expired pregnancy test.
• Are taking certain medicines, such as antihistamines or water pills (diuretics).

What should I do if I have a positive pregnancy test?

If you have a positive home pregnancy test, schedule an appointment with your health care provider. You might need additional testing to confirm the pregnancy.

What should I do if I have a negative pregnancy test?

If you have a negative home pregnancy test but still have symptoms of pregnancy, contact your health care provider. Your health care provider will test a sample of your blood to check for pregnancy. In some cases, a blood test will return a positive result even if a urine test was negative because blood tests are more sensitive. This means blood tests can detect hCG earlier than home pregnancy tests.

Follow these instructions at home:

If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or think you may be pregnant:

• Do not drink alcohol.
• Do not use street drugs.
• Do not use any products that contain nicotine or tobacco, such as cigarettes and e-cigarettes. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
• Take a prenatal vitamin that contains at least 400 mcg of folic acid daily.

Summary

• A home pregnancy test helps you determine whether you are pregnant or not by detecting the presence of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in a sample of your urine.
• Follow the test package instructions very carefully. For best results, use your first urine of the morning. That is when the concentration of hCG is highest.
• Home pregnancy tests are very accurate when you are 3–4 weeks pregnant or when it has been 1–2 weeks since your missed period.
• A home pregnancy test may report that you are pregnant when you are not pregnant or that you are not pregnant when you are pregnant.
• Contact your health care provider to confirm your results. Your health care provider will test a sample of your blood to check for pregnancy.