There are two types of pregnancy tests; one uses a urine sample, the other a sample of blood. Both tests detect the presence of a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This hormonal agent is produced by the placenta soon after the embryo attaches to the uterine lining and builds up rapidly in your body in the first couple of days of pregnancy.
It is this fast shift in hormones that activates the majority of your pregnancy symptoms.
Urine and Blood Tests to Detect Your Pregnancy
Urine Tests
Urine tests can be carried out in two different methods and these can be carried out at home or in a center. One method includes collecting your urine in a cup and dipping a stick into the urine or putting urine into a special container with an eyedropper. Another option involves placing a stick into your urine stream and catching your urine in midstream.
Tests differ in the length of time you have to wait to get a result. You will be looking for a change in color, a line, or a sign (like a plus or minus). The newer digital pregnancy test provided by Clearblue Easy makes reading your outcomes easy: the window will either reveal the words “not pregnant” or “pregnant”.
All tests feature instructions, and it is necessary that you follow these guidelines to obtain an accurate reading.
When can I take a urine test?
Many physicians recommend that you wait until the first day of your missed period before taking a urine pregnancy test. This is normally about two weeks after conception. Nevertheless, some tests are more delicate than others and can be taken previously.
Also read: After how many days pregnancy can be confirmed by urine test
How precise are urine tests?
Urine tests or home pregnancy tests are around 97% accurate when done properly. Home pregnancy tests are excellent to use because they can be done at home, they are generally low in cost (anywhere from $7.99 to $19.99), personal, they provide a quick result, and are easy to use.
Nevertheless, if done improperly or taken too early, the outcome can be incorrect. If you get an unfavorable outcome and still have symptoms of pregnancy (missed out on duration, nausea, breast inflammation and fatigue), wait a week and take another test or call your doctor so you can have a blood test done.
Blood Tests
There are two types of blood tests. A quantitative blood test determines the precise quantity of hCG in the blood, and a qualitative hCG blood test gives a simple yes or no answer to whether you are pregnant or not.
Benefits of having a blood test done:
- Can find a pregnancy earlier than a urine test at about 7-12 days from possible conception (but if an unfavorable result is gotten, a test should be repeated if a duration is missed out on)
- Can determine the concentration of hCG hormone in your blood (this works info for your doctor in tracking particular problems in pregnancy)
Drawbacks to having a blood test done:
- More costly than a urine test (price depends upon cost of doctor’s visit and laboratory charges)
- Takes longer to get outcome
- Should be performed in a doctor’s workplace
Commonly asked questions About Pregnancy Tests
If I get a favorable result on a home pregnancy test, does that mean I am pregnant?
A positive result from a home pregnancy test shows the presence of the hormone hCG in your system. When an egg is implanted in a woman’s uterine lining, hCG hormones begin to establish and multiply. This is a sign that you have become pregnant.
If I get an unfavorable result on a home pregnancy test, does that mean I am not pregnant?
An unfavorable outcome can imply that you are not pregnant, you took the test too early, or you took the test wrong. Pregnancy tests vary in their sensitivity (how soon they can detect the hormone hCG), and you may not have actually offered your body adequate time to produce sufficient hCG hormonal agents that will show up on the test.
Likewise, if you let a test sit for too long (after the instructions on package inform you), the test is invalid. It is best to follow the guidelines and wait till you have actually missed a duration prior to taking the test. Many pregnancy tests feature two in a box, and it is a great idea to take both.
When is the earliest that I can take a home pregnancy test?
It is advised that you wait up until you have missed a duration to take a home test. A missed period is typically among the first signs of pregnancy. If you can not wait that long to learn and you know the day you might have developed, then the earliest you can take a test would be 14 days from possible conception.
What if I take a couple of home pregnancy tests and get different answers?
If you have actually gotten different answers on multiple pregnancy tests, it is advised that you get a blood test done to get an accurate response.
