Buying a pregnancy test can be a daunting task due to high levels of anxiety whether you are planning on being pregnant, hoping to be pregnant or scared that you are pregnant. You may wonder which brands are the best and provide accurate information about your pregnancy status. A good way to determine the accuracy of a home pregnancy test is to do some research with reputable online resources like Consumer Reports. Home pregnancy tests examine your urine for the presence of the pregnancy hormone
called human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG). The accuracy of home pregnancy tests are varied and some will detect the presence of hCG earlier than others.
A home pregnancy test will usually provide fairly accurate results within one week of a missed period. It is not advisable to rely on the results of a home pregnancy test earlier than 6-8 days after fertilization since the results may not be accurate. The levels of hCG in the urine are present immediately upon conception but are at very low levels within the first week of pregnancy, making it impossible for the home pregnancy test to determine precisely the status of your pregnancy.
When you buy a pregnancy test from the drugstore or pharmacy, select one that has directions you can understand easily and one that contains a simple graphic so you are not left with confusion. Home pregnancy tests are 99% accurate and you can feel confident in the result you see on the device, unless a home pregnancy test is administered too early on in the pregnancy. If the home test cannot detect the level of hCG because there are scant levels in the urine, a false negative will be given. If you think you have taken the test too early, wait a few days and take another one. If you are under significant time pressure or are anxious about the results, you can always schedule an appointment with your doctor for a complete accuracy.
