How to use and read the most accurate pregnancy test results

Pregnancy test is considered a useful tool for many women when they want to know if they have succeeded in conception or not. So, it is never superfluous to learn how to use a pregnancy test and how to read the correct results.

You want to use the test to see if you are pregnant or not but still wondering about how to use it and worried about the accuracy of this tool? The information in the following article of aFamilyToday Health will help you have a more general view of this useful tool for more peace of mind when using.

What is a pregnancy test?

A pregnancy test is a test device to detect the pregnancy hormone hCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) in the urine. This hormone is secreted by the body when the placenta has begun to form and develop. Your hCG levels will gradually increase during this period, and using a pregnancy test can determine if you are pregnant based on levels of this hormone.

The test strip contains a strand of fibers covered with certain antibodies that react with the hormone hCG. There is a line on the body of the stick called the benchmark line. If after the pregnancy test, two bars appear on the body of the stick, the result is positive, it means you are pregnant. On the contrary, if only one bar is displayed, the result is negative, it means you are not pregnant yet or it could be because the hormone level is too low and not enough for the test to recognize.

How often in relationships to use a pregnancy test and when is the most appropriate time to use it?

In fact, many people do not know: How long in the relationship do we use the pregnancy test or when we use the pregnancy test or how many days delay, then using the pregnancy test will show the results that we have pregnancy? According to obstetricians, you can take a pregnancy test after 7 days of sex without applying any form of contraception or when you notice some of the following signs of early pregnancy :

Your menstrual cycle is at least 5 days or more late

Tired often

Urinating more

Abdominal cramps

The chest is swollen, more sensitive

Nausea, vomiting

More sensitive to flavors, food ...

The accuracy of the results shown on the pregnancy test depends a lot on when you try it and how it is used. Experts recommend that you wait 7-14 days after having sex to use a pregnancy test to get the most accurate results. Also, if you have a steady menstrual cycle, about a week after your period is late, use a test strip.

In addition, you should take the test in the morning when you first wake up. This is the time when the hCG hormone concentration in the urine is at the highest level, so the results will be more accurate.

Tell you how to use a pregnancy test correctly at home

If you do not know how to use a pregnancy test correctly at home, do not worry too much because it is so easy to use. Read the directions carefully as each test has different uses. In general, however, to get the correct results using the test strip, you need to go through the following four steps:

Step 1: Take the urine sample into the cup. You should get the urine in the middle of the stream or take the urine in a large (clean) glass and pour it into a test cup.

Step 2: Tear off the aluminum foil containing the pregnancy test and remove the test stick.

Step 3: Immerse the test strip in the urine cup so that the surface of the urine does not exceed the urine line limit and point the arrow down.

Step 4: Take out the stick, hang it on a clean, dry surface, wait 5 minutes and then read the results on the test strip.

Note that some types of pregnancy test strips require that you expose the strip to direct contact with the urine stream. Others require you to dip a portion of the test strip in a cup of urine or just put a few drops of urine in the test area.

One of the mistakes when using a pregnancy test is that you are too impatient to read the results right away, making the results false. Therefore, regardless of the type of test strip you use, you should follow the instructions on the packaging and wait patiently for about 5 minutes before checking the results.

Are the results shown on the pregnancy test accurate?

Many people use the test but still wonder whether the results displayed on the pregnancy test are accurate? The answer is that you can use this test device with confidence. According to the American Pregnancy Association , pregnancy test accuracy can be up to 97% if used correctly. This means that the condition and use of the pregnancy test determines the accuracy of the results.

However,  research shows that there are many different reasons that can cause inaccurate pregnancy test results. This could be due to:

Test stick quality

Time for a urine test

Time to read the results

How to use the pregnancy test is not in accordance with the instructions

Pregnancy complications such as early miscarriage , ectopic pregnancy, ...

The effects of current drugs ...

How to read the pregnancy test to understand the results displayed

Results of a home pregnancy test can happen in the following cases:

1. The pregnancy test has 2 pink bars

Congratulations, you have become a mother already!

At this point, you can try to calculate your baby's age by estimating the date of conception and starting to plan your health care in the coming months of pregnancy. Pay more attention to nutrition , exercise , daily routines and what to abstain in the first 3 months to have a healthy pregnancy.

Also, see a specialist early to determine exactly whether you are pregnant or if this is just a false positive, how your baby is developing to get the best advice and prevents the risk of complications during pregnancy .

2. Test stick 1 dark or 1 blurred line

Usually, a pregnancy test with 1 bold line or 1 blurred line is a sign that you are testing too early. At this time, the concentration of hCG in the urine may be quite low, not enough to react with the test strip. Therefore, wait a few more days and check again for the most accurate results.

3. The results are different after many tests

Sometimes the test results on a pregnancy test make you confused about whether you are pregnant or not? Examples you may encounter include:

Pregnancy test strip 1 bold line 1 blurred line

Pregnancy test strip 1 bold line 1 very fuzzy line

Pregnancy test 2 bold lines but still menstruation

Pregnancy test strip 2 fuzzy lines

Pregnancy test 1 blurred line.

The causes of these ambiguous results can be due to:

As mentioned above, when you take a pregnancy test too early, the concentration of hCG in your urine is still very low, the test has detected hCG but the reaction is not strong enough for the test to show clear results.

Early miscarriage  prevents an embryo from developing, but it previously stimulated your body to produce small amounts of the hormone hCG.

Effects of some drugs you are taking such as diuretics, sedatives, antibiotics, anticonvulsants, fertility drugs ... These drugs can more or less cause pregnancy test results. be wrong. This can be explained for cases where the 2-bar pregnancy test is still having periods.

If you have an ovarian cyst , it can also cause the pregnancy test to show 2 bars.

Wrong date of ovulation or incorrect memory of the first day of your last period or the exact date you had sex.

Using the pregnancy test incorrectly: The urine cup is not really clean, you just soak the test for a while or soak for too long.

You drank too much water before the pregnancy test, causing a lot of urine to dilute the hCG concentration in the urine.

Poor quality pregnancy test or out of date. These may impair or lose the sensitivity of the pregnancy test.

If you have had a pregnancy test multiple times and get different results, go to the maternity hospital or specialist clinic for a visit. Maybe, doctors will order you to do blood tests, an ultrasound to get the most accurate results.

Where can I buy a pregnancy test?

One of the things to know when using a pregnancy test is how to choose the right test strip. A pregnancy test is a very popular device, so you can buy it at any drugstore or online at reputable stores and can be used at home without consulting your doctor, except for school. If you are using prescription infertility drugs. In this case, consulting your doctor will help you to have a more accurate test method.

Important notes when using a pregnancy test

After understanding how to use and how to read the results of the pregnancy test, you should take a few more notes to ensure the most accurate results received:

Use the test at the appropriate time: at least 5 days after your period is late (if your period has stabilized).

Choose a time in the morning to test because the urine is now concentrated, with the highest hCG concentration.

Wait patiently for about 5 minutes before reading the results.

Calculating your ovulation date and your period to make sure you're late is a sign of early pregnancy, not for other reasons.

Some drugs such as sedatives, infertility drugs ... can affect the results of pregnancy tests.

Cheap test strips do not mean they are not correct.

Hope the above shares will help you better understand the pregnancy test and use it correctly. Besides, if both of you have been waiting for a long time but have not received the good news, immediately learn about common mistakes that make it difficult to conceive as well as  7 easy-to-conceive tips in the family handbook for early. Welcome the little angel to the family.