Signs of pregnancy if the test fails. Video: How to choose a pregnancy test - medical advice. Delay and negative result

When a girl hopes to become pregnant (or, conversely, carefully avoids this situation), she buys a test even at the slightest sign of conception. From what time the pregnancy test shows a positive result, directly depends on the individual characteristics of the female body and the research method.

This self-diagnosis method is common among modern women. The main advantages of testing are:

• low price;
• availability;
• ease of use;
• anonymity;
• reliable result.

To have an idea of \u200b\u200bwhen to take a pregnancy test, you need to understand how it works. Any such device is programmed to search for a specific structure - chorionic gonadotropin. This substance begins to be produced by the female body immediately after the attachment of the ovum in the cavity of the genital organ. First, the concentration of a unique hormone rises in the blood. Some time after implantation, it begins to increase in the urine. It is during this period that it is better to do a test in order to quickly learn about the new situation.

Take a short online pregnancy test on our website in a couple of minutes and get an answer -.

When chorionic gonadotropin is detected, strip strips develop a reagent. As a result, the woman sees a positive result - two lines. When there is no pregnancy hormone in the urine or its concentration is not yet high enough, the device shows one line - the control line. It indicates that the research was carried out correctly.

HCG level in urine

In a non-pregnant state, the level of hCG in the blood does not exceed 2-3 IU. In urine, this amount is even less. Immediately after implantation, which occurs 3-7 days after the release of the egg, the amount of the pregnant indicator begins to grow. It increases 1.5-2 times daily. How many days after conception the test will show pregnancy, it will help to approximately determine the table of norms.

In this table, you can see what is the content of hCG by day from conception in the urine.

It should be borne in mind that the moment of sexual intercourse does not always coincide with ovulation. Sperm can exist in a woman's body for up to 7 days. For this reason, it is necessary to count precisely from the day the egg leaves the ovary. You can reliably determine the moment of ovulation using appropriate tests, basal temperature measurement or ultrasound.

The most sensitive tests

How many days the test will show pregnancy after conception depends entirely on its sensitivity. Today's research instrument manufacturers promise 99% diagnostic accuracy even before the delay. However, one should not believe loud slogans and promising statements. It is necessary to understand the test systems in order to know when to use this or that.

The sole purpose of non-pregnancy tests is to detect chorionic gonadotropin in research material. On which day after conception it will be installed depends on the sensitivity of the system. All characteristics of the device are indicated on the packaging. Tests with a sensitivity of 20 and 25 mUl / ml are popular, but strips with a value of 10, 15 and 30 are also available. This figure indicates the minimum level of human chorionic gonadotropin that is required to establish a new position.

• EVA is a test that is classified as an insensitive but accurate device. It determines pregnancy when at least 30 IU of hCG is present in the urine, which means that the likelihood of a false positive result for them is quite small.
• Itest, Vera, Mon Ami, Frautest have a sensitivity of 25 mU. Such tests are the most common.
• Lady, Evitest, Mom Check with a sensitivity of 20 IU allows you to determine pregnancy 1.5-2 weeks after conception. However, before the delay, they still sometimes give a false result.
• Insure, Clever Girl, which detects 12.5 mU hCG in urine, give an early result. According to the manufacturers' promises, they show two stripes within a week after ovulation.
• BB-test, First Sign position themselves as highly sensitive tests. They react when the urine level of pregnant hormone reaches 10 IU. According to reviews, such devices often show false positives.

Should you trust the manufacturers?

Many manufacturers of home diagnostic devices use a marketing ploy and indicate on the packaging of their products the exact number on which day of conception a positive pregnancy test will show. At the pharmacy or supermarket, you can buy systems that promise an accurate answer 1, 2, 4 or even 8 days before the delay. In fact, such statements cannot be trusted. The lower the number of the device's sensitivity, the less HCG it needs to establish pregnancy, the sooner - according to the manufacturer - the test will show. Most gynecologists recommend conducting a study no earlier than the first day of the delay. In this case, the result will be the most accurate.

Before the delay in menstruation, many of the fairer sex tests show a positive result. This is evidenced by their reviews. But often the device gives a negative answer, when after a while the pregnancy is still confirmed. The reason for a false negative result is an insufficient increase in hCG or improper use of the test. A false positive is less common. It can be caused by internal diseases such as tumors. If the test shows 2 lines, but the woman is definitely not pregnant, then she needs to be examined.

Obstetrician-gynecologist, doctor of the highest category, candidate of medical sciences, director of the Repromed family clinic comments:

- Embryo implantation usually occurs on the 21-24th day of the cycle, the secretion of hormones reflecting the onset of pregnancy (hCG) begins within the first days after fertilization, but the concentration before implantation and the first stages of development of the trophoblast (future placenta) is too low to be detected during the collection of tests (both blood and urine). The study of blood and urine on the 3-4th day of the delay in menstruation becomes informative. Blood counts (hCG) are quantitative and therefore more accurately reflect the situation.

They are also important for the differential diagnosis of uterine and ectopic pregnancy. Also, the determination of hCG blood serum in dynamics (at intervals of 2 weeks) is important at the risk of regression of pregnancy.

Pregnancy tests (urine tests) are also based on the detection of hCG, usually a qualitative study. For more accurate results, you must donate blood. In any case, it is advisable to see a doctor if the pregnancy test is positive (or questionable).

How to get an accurate result

When to do a pregnancy test, every woman decides for herself. If there is already a delay in menstruation, then the time of the diagnosis does not matter. When you want to do the test the very next day after conception, and you hardly have the patience to wait 7-10 days after ovulation to examine the biomaterial for signs of pregnancy, you need to adhere to certain rules:

• choose the morning time for testing (the first portion of urine after waking up contains a larger amount of chorionic gonadotropin, since its growth occurs mainly at night);
• find a clean container for collecting material (if a flatbed test or strip strip is used, then the dishes must be clean, otherwise various liquid impurities may affect the test result);
• observe the time (the instructions for use indicate not only when you can make a father-in-law for pregnancy, but also the time that you need to maintain a strip strip in a biomaterial);
• correctly interpret the result (it is necessary to evaluate the test response within 3-5 minutes, most devices become not informative after 10, and the reagent begins to appear on their surface).

Various violations can affect the diagnostic result. For example, if you use the test in the evening and drink a lot of water before that, then the answer will be skewed towards negative. For this reason, the manufacturers of all devices unanimously recommend refraining from urinating 2-4 hours before the diagnosis, and also not drinking liquids during this period of time. In such conditions, the urine will be more concentrated, which will eliminate errors and false results.

What time to do the test

When to take a pregnancy test is not that important. If you follow all the rules, then after a delay, you can conduct a study even in the evening or at night. You don't have to wait for the morning urine sample. But it should be noted: the later the diagnosis is made, the more chances of getting an accurate answer.

Taking certain medications can also affect the test result. When planning a pregnancy, women may be prescribed stimulation, which includes injections of chorionic gonadotropin. This substance is excreted from the body after about 2 weeks. Therefore, early testing can show a positive result in the absence of real pregnancy. Taking diuretics and certain drugs to lower blood pressure accelerates the excretion of urine from the body, as a result of which the concentration of the pregnant hormone in the biomaterial decreases.

To summarize, it's safe to say that when it is best to do a pregnancy test is a few days after the delay. In this case, the result will be as accurate as possible, and the study can be carried out in the morning, afternoon or evening - as it is more convenient for a woman.

If patience is not enough, and you want to learn about the conception as soon as possible, then it is better to donate blood to determine hCG. This research will provide a more accurate and early result. The analysis can be carried out already from 5-7 days after ovulation (not to be confused with sexual contact). It is important to understand how a pregnancy test works: from how long it shows - depends on its sensitivity. The lower the ME value indicated on the package, the greater the chances of early diagnosis.

We are already accustomed to using pregnancy tests at the first suspicion of it. Well, it’s convenient, you don’t run to the doctor every time. In addition, the method is quite fast and accurate. Although, about the latter, one can argue, ladies sometimes complain that the test did not show pregnancy for a long time, and then she still showed up. Let's see if the test can not determine pregnancy, and in what cases it does not show it.

Does the test sometimes fail to show pregnancy?

Can a pregnancy test fail to show it? How can you! Especially if they are trying to determine the pregnancy before the delay. The fact is that hormonal changes occur gradually, and the next day after unprotected sex, pregnancy cannot be determined. Usually, this opportunity appears 2 weeks after fertilization. In what other cases does the test fail to show pregnancy?

Why doesn't the test show pregnancy?

It is understandable when a woman tries to detect pregnancy too early, and the test does not determine anything. But why does not the test show a three-week pregnancy, what's the matter?

1. The storage conditions of the dough have been violated and have therefore been spoiled or the dough has expired.
2. Stale urine was used for the test.
3. She was taking diuretics or drinking a lot of fluids before testing.
4. There is a possibility of a problem pregnancy, for example, there is a threat of miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy. It is for this reason that experts do not recommend fully relying on the results of express pregnancy tests, and if you suspect that conception has occurred, contact a gynecologist.
5. It may happen that the pregnancy has come and is proceeding normally, but the test still shows one strip. This happens in the presence of kidney pathology, which does not allow hCG to be excreted along with urine in the concentration necessary for the test reaction.

Pregnancy test errors

In addition to the above reasons, compliance with the rules for its conduct also affects the reliability of the test. It happens that a woman is pregnant, and the test does not show this in the following cases.

It is worth remembering that there are also false positive test results - the woman is not pregnant, and the test shows 2 strips. It is due to the fact that the tests are wrong and, as practice shows, quite often, you should not believe 100% of the test results, it is better to contact a gynecologist if there are any suspicions.

May show an incorrect result. The whole set of errors in pregnancy tests is usually divided into two types - false positive and false negative results. False positive results include the detection of pregnancy in a non-pregnant woman. And false negative results include, accordingly, the failure to detect pregnancy in a woman who actually became pregnant.

False positive pregnancy test results can be due to the following causative factors:

• The use of drugs to stimulate ovulation containing human chorionic gonadotropin (for example, Profazi, Pregnil, Ovitrel, etc.);


• Various tumor formations of the uterus, ovaries, kidneys, lungs and intestines;


• Increased production of chorionic gonadotropin in the brain structures - the pituitary gland, for example, with tumors or traumatic brain injuries;


• Kidney disease;


• Childbirth, abortion or miscarriage that occurred less than 1 month ago.

False negative pregnancy test errors can be due to the following reasons:

• Too early analysis;


• Diluted urine;


• Incorrect analysis.

The most common false positive and false negative pregnancy test errors are due to the following causal factors:

1. Pregnancy is too short. If a test with a sensitivity of 20-25 IU / L is used, then it will be able to correctly diagnose the presence of pregnancy only for a period of at least three weeks. Thus, this type of test can only be done 15-17 days after the last unprotected intercourse. If the test is done before the 15th day from the moment of the intended conception, it will show a negative result, that is, it will be mistaken. Due to the fact that sexual contact, which resulted in pregnancy, could occur literally 1 - 2 days before the estimated date of the next menstruation, doctors and scientists recommend doing a test with a sensitivity of 25 IU / L no earlier than 2 weeks of delay. In this case, the test will not fail. If a pregnancy test with a sensitivity of 10 IU / L is used, then it must be done 7 to 10 days after unprotected intercourse. However, if a woman becomes pregnant 2 days before the start of the next menstruation, then on a 2 - 3 day delay the test will show a negative result, since 7 - 10 days from the moment of conception has not yet passed. That is, the test will be wrong. That is why doctors recommend doing a test with a sensitivity of 10 IU / L only after 7 days of delayed menstruation;

2. Poor urine quality. For a pregnancy test, you should use morning urine, since it is in it that the concentration of human chorionic gonadotropin is maximal. During the day, a woman can drink a lot, as a result of which the urine is diluted, and the concentration of gonadotropin decreases. In such a situation, a pregnancy test will determine the concentration of chorionic gonadotropin in diluted urine and may be mistaken by showing a negative result;

3. Improper use of a pregnancy test. The test should be done strictly according to the instructions, and the result should be assessed after a specified period of time. If the test is not performed correctly, the result may be erroneous;

4. Kidney disease. With kidney pathology, the level of chorionic gonadotropin in urine during pregnancy may not increase. In this case, the test will show a negative result, even if everything is done correctly, that is, it is wrong;

5. Pregnancy pathology. The test may be wrong if the pregnancy is ectopic or there is a threat of miscarriage;

6. Weak attachment of the fetus to the wall of the uterus. In this case, there is pregnancy, but the chorionic gonadotropin is not produced in sufficient quantities. That is, the result of the pregnancy test will be negative and, accordingly, erroneous.

Pregnancy test and laboratory methods of pregnancy research

Every woman will agree that the use of such a "wise" invention as a pregnancy test is always preceded by a very strong excitement. This test can be used at home or on the road, at any time that is convenient for you, eliminating your worries and the question that arises - whether pregnancy has occurred.

But are these tests always so true, can you believe their results? Are there mistakes?

False negative pregnancy result - when does it happen?

As the long-term practice of using tests to determine pregnancy shows, false negative results happen quite often , i.e. with the onset of pregnancy, tests persistently show a negative result. And the point is not at all that this or that company produces & defective & or low-quality tests - other factors also influence the determination of the most truthful result, in particular, the conditions for using pregnancy tests. But, let's take everything in order.

To a large extent, the reliability of the result depends on its quality and correct and timely application. Literally everything can affect the result: from banal non-observance of instructions, to the pathology of fetal development. In any case, when your menstruation is delayed for more than a week, and the test shows a negative result, you have a good reason to visit a gynecologist.

Reason # 1: The test was done too early

The very first and most common reason for getting a false negative result when using a pregnancy test is testing very early. Normally, the level of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) already increases significantly by the date of the expected next menstruation, which makes it possible to establish the fact of pregnancy with an accurate probability. But sometimes this indicator remains low in the first weeks of a woman's pregnancy, and then the test shows a negative result. When in doubt, a woman should repeat the test a few days later, and it is advisable to use a test from another company.

Every woman knows the estimated date of the next menstruation, unless, of course, she has a pathology accompanied by a violation of the menstrual cycle. But even with a normal cycle, the date ovulation can be very much shifted in time to the beginning of the cycle, or to its end. There are rare exceptions when ovulation occurs on the days of the onset of menstruation - this is influenced by various factors or pathological processes in the woman's body. If ovulation occurred quite late, then by the first days after the date of the expected previously menstrual period, the level of hCG in the woman's urine may be very low, and the test to determine pregnancy will show a false negative result.

In the blood of a woman, when pregnancy occurs, hCG appears almost immediately. After a few days, this hormone can also be found in urine, but in a relatively low concentration. If speak about timing , then in the blood human chorionic gonadotropin is detected through week after conception, and in urine through 10 days - two weeks after conception. It is important to keep in mind that the level of hCG after the onset of pregnancy in its earliest stages increases approximately twice in 1 day, but after 4-5 weeks from conception, this figure falls, since the forming placenta of the embryo takes over the function of producing the necessary hormones.

With a delay in menstruation of 2 days, as well as indirect signs of the onset of a long-awaited pregnancy (burning and tenderness of the nipples, drowsiness, nausea), I made a test to determine pregnancy, it turned out to be positive. The same week I went to the gynecologist, she prescribed me the necessary examination and an additional test to determine pregnancy by hCG in the blood. It turned out that I passed this test two weeks after the expected date of the next menstruation, and the result turned out to be doubtful, that is, hCG \u003d 117. It turned out that my pregnancy did not develop, but froze at an early stage.

When I was pregnant with my daughter, after a delay in menstruation, I immediately took a test, the result was positive. Then I went to the gynecologist, he prescribed an analysis of hCG blood. A week later, the gynecologist said to undergo blood hCG again - the first and second results were low. The doctor suggested an undeveloped pregnancy, said to retake the analysis again in a week. Only when the gestational age was more than 8 weeks, hCG increased, and the ultrasound scan listened to the heartbeat, determined that the fetus was developing normally. It is too early to draw conclusions from the first analysis, especially if you use tests at home, or if your pregnancy is too young.

My friend, about to celebrate her birthday, bought a test to be sure whether she can drink alcohol or not. In terms of time, then this day came out just on the day of the expected menstruation. The test showed a negative result. The birthday was celebrated noisily, with abundant libations, and then there was a delay. A week later, the & BBtest & showed a positive result, which was later confirmed by a visit to the gynecologist. It seems to me that in any case, a woman who suspects pregnancy should do a couple of tests with a period of time in order to be sure of the presence or absence of pregnancy.

Reason # 2: Bad urine

The second common reason for getting a false negative test result in an already onset pregnancy is using for him highly diluted urine ... Diuretics, excessive fluid intake greatly reduce the concentration of urine, and therefore the test reagent cannot detect the presence of hCG in it. For reliable results testing pregnancy must be done in the morning , when the concentration of hCG in the urine is very high, and at the same time - in the evening do not take a lot of fluids and diuretics, do not eat watermelon. After a few weeks, the concentration of human chorionic gonadotropin is so high that tests can accurately determine it even in highly diluted urine.

Yes, I also had this - I got pregnant in the very heat. I was very thirsty, I drank literally liters, plus watermelons. When I found a slight delay of 3-4 days, I used the test that my friend advised me, as the most accurate - & Clear Blue &, the result was negative. As it turned out, the result turned out to be false, because the visit to the gynecologist dispelled all my doubts - I was pregnant.

I suspect that I had exactly the same - heavy drinking affected the test results, they were negative up to 8 weeks of pregnancy. It is good that at that moment I was planning and expecting a pregnancy without drinking alcohol or taking antibiotics, and in another case, a negative result can be cruelly deceiving. And the baby's health will be at risk ...

Reason # 3: The test was misused

If important ground rules are violated when using the pregnancy test, the result may also be false negative. Each test is accompanied by detailed instructions, in most cases - with pictures that will help to avoid mistakes in its application. Each test that is sold in our country must have instructions in Russian. Take your time during testing, it is very important carefully and scrupulous complete all the most important points to get the most reliable result.

And my friend bought me a test at my request, it turned out to be & ClearBlue &. The instructions are clear, but I, deciding to use the test immediately, did not read it, and almost ruined the inkjet test, since I had not encountered such before.

I believe that tablet tests require special care - if it is written that you should add 3 drops of urine, then you should accurately measure this amount. Of course, many girls expecting pregnancy want to pour more in the & window & so that the test will show pregnancy for sure - but you all know that this is self-deception.

Reason # 4: Problems with the excretory system

A negative test result during pregnancy is influenced by various pathological processes in a woman's body, diseases. So, for some kidney disease the level of hCG in the urine of pregnant women does not increase. If a woman's urine as a result of pathological conditions is present protein then a pregnancy test may also show a false negative.

If, after collecting urine, for some reason, a woman cannot conduct pregnancy testing immediately, a portion of urine should be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 48 hours. If the urine was stale , for one or two days, standing in a warm place, at room temperature, the test results may be false negative.

I had this with early pregnancy toxicosis, when I already knew for sure that I was pregnant. I was prescribed an analysis for the level of hormones in the blood, as well as an analysis for hCG, according to which it turned out that I was not pregnant at all, like that! Even earlier, I was diagnosed with chronic pyelonephritis, so I went through a lot with tests from the very beginning of pregnancy - that is, pregnancy, then no according to the tests, I already stopped believing myself. But everything ended well, I have a daughter!

I got pregnant just after I had severe bronchitis. Apparently, the body was so weakened that up to 6 weeks of pregnancy both & Frau & and & Bi-Shur & showed a negative result (2 times, at 2 and 5 weeks of pregnancy). By the way, at the 6th week of pregnancy, the & Frau & test was the first to show a positive result, and & Bi-Shur & continued to lie ...

Reason number 5: Pathology of pregnancy

In some cases, a false negative pregnancy test result is obtained when ectopic pregnancy... A false negative pregnancy test result can also be obtained with early threats of miscarriage, with abnormally developing pregnancy and frozen embryo.

With improper or weak attachment of the ovum to the uterine wall, as well as with some concomitant pathological factors affecting the formation of the placenta, a test to determine pregnancy may show a false negative result due to chronic placental insufficiency of the fetus.

I did a pregnancy test when there was only one week delay. Honestly, at first I sinned on the defective test of the brand & Be sure &, because two stripes appeared, but one of them was very weak, barely distinguishable. The next day, I did not calm down, and bought a test & Evitest & - the same, two strips, but one of them is barely distinguishable. I went to the doctor right away, they sent me for the diagnosis of hCG blood. It turned out - an ectopic pregnancy, and the fetal egg attached at the exit from the tube. I believe that in case of doubtful results, it is necessary to immediately consult a doctor, since in some situations delay is true - & death is like &.

And my false negative test result showed a frozen pregnancy at 5 weeks. The fact is that I was tested 1 day before the expected date of menstruation - the test & Frautest & showed confident two strips. I went to the doctor, underwent an examination - everything was fine. Since I am 35 years old, and the first pregnancy, they did an ultrasound at the very beginning - everything is fine. But before the next appointment with the gynecologist, for the sake of curiosity, I decided to test the remaining and not useful copy of the test - it showed a negative result. Considering this mistake, I went to the doctor - another examination showed that the ovum was asleep, has a non-circular shape, pregnancy does not develop from 4 weeks ...

Reason # 6: The test does not show pregnancy due to improper storage

If a pregnancy test was purchased at a pharmacy, there is no doubt that the conditions for its storage are correctly observed. It's another matter if the test is already expired , lay at home for a long time, was exposed to temperature extremes or was stored in high humidity, bought from hands in a random place - in this case, it is highly likely that it will be unable to show a reliable result. When buying tests, even in pharmacies, you should check the expiration date.

I would like to express my indignation at the tests Factor-honey "VERA". Flimsy strips falling apart in your hands that you don't want to believe! When I urgently needed a test to determine pregnancy, there were only such in the pharmacy, I had to take it. Although it was not expired, it was sold in a pharmacy - it initially looked like it had already been in alterations. As confirmed by the control testing, which I conducted a few days after the & VERA & test, the result was correct - I am not pregnant. But these strips look such that after them I want to conduct another test to find out, finally, the truth.

So you're in luck! And this test showed me two stripes when I was most afraid of it. I must say that I spent many unpleasant minutes of painful waiting for the correct result. It's time for companies to sue for moral damage!

I join the opinions of the girls! This is a test for those who love the thrill, not otherwise.

Reason # 7: Poor and defective tests

Products of various pharmaceutical companies varies greatly in quality and therefore the result of testing with different tests carried out at the same time can vary dramatically. To obtain reliable results, you should use the tests not once, but two or more times, with a frequency of several days, and it is better to buy tests from different companies. By the way, when buying a test to determine pregnancy, there is no need to follow the rule & the more expensive the better & - the price of the test itself in the pharmacy does not affect the reliability of the result. Read on for the truest pregnancy tests.

Once it happened that I was deceived by a test that I, in general, trusted more than others - & BIOCARD &. With a delay of 4 days, he showed two bright stripes, and I went to my doctor. As it turned out, there was no pregnancy - this was confirmed by an ultrasound scan, and a blood test for hCG, and the menstruation that came later ...

Since I live with my boyfriend, I somehow decided to buy several & VERA & tests at once so that they could be at home. I'll tell you right away. That I have never used pregnancy tests, since we protected ourselves with condoms. And then curiosity drew me to use the test three days before the start of menstruation. Did the test - and almost fainted, as it clearly showed two stripes! Children were not planned yet, so what happened was a bolt from the blue for my boyfriend. The next day I bought a test & Evitest & - one strip, hurray! And my period came the next day.

And I came across a defective test & Ministrip &. After carrying out the procedure, I saw on the test more than one strip ... and not two stripes ... But a dirty pink spot spread over the entire surface of the stick. I immediately realized that the test was not up to par, but before the control testing I still felt a chill from fear - what if pregnancy?

If you liked our article and have any thoughts about this, share with us! It is very important for us to know your opinion!

My friend also got pregnant. There was a delay in menstruation, she did a test, it turned out to be negative. She then waited for another week for about a week and did it again. Only then did he show a positive result. She was married and they were glad that they would have a child :) Now our daughters communicate and their mothers too :)

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To determine whether a pregnancy has occurred, special pregnancy tests help. Although modern tests can often make mistakes, they are reliable when instructed to be followed, easy to use, and affordable.

According to experts, the reliability of modern tests is high - 97-99% and they make it possible to find out about pregnancy in the first weeks even before visiting a doctor.

When fertilization has occurred, the placenta begins to produce a special hormone - chorionic gonadotropin or hCG for short. Pregnancy tests work by reacting chemically to this hormone. Already 10 days after fertilization, the hCG indicator reaches 25 units per mm and continues to double every three days.

The test has an absorbent part with a special substance, which, if hCG is present in a woman's urine, changes color, as a result, two red stripes appear, and in some tests blue. The manifestation of two lines is a positive result. If the concentration of this hormone is still low, then the second line may be colored pale.

One strip appears from contact with any liquid, regardless of the hCG content in it, i.e. if the test shows only one line, the result is negative.

Types of tests

The modern choice of tests for determining pregnancy is quite wide. Tests differ in type, sensitivity level, rules of use, price. There are very cheap, but no less popular and high quality tests, others are more expensive. Each test has its positive and negative sides. Which one to give preference is an individual decision of each woman.

Test strips

The most affordable and popular type of test. To conduct it, it is enough to lower the test to the specified strip in the urine for 20-30 seconds.
The result will be known in 5 minutes.

Tablet test

According to the women who used the tablet test, it gives a more accurate result compared to the strip test. This is due to the fact that the reagent is reliably protected by means of a plastic box. With a special pipette included in the test kit, drop urine into the hole on the tablet test. The answer will be known within 5 minutes.

Inkjet test

Its convenience lies in the fact that it is not required to pre-collect urine in a sterile container. You just need to substitute the test at the time of urination under the stream of urine, and the result is assessed almost immediately.
Unlike the previous two types, which should be carried out during the first morning urination, jet can be done at any time of the day.

Electronic test

Its principle of operation is the same as that of others. The tip is immersed in urine for 5 seconds or placed under the stream, then the strip must be laid horizontally and after 3 minutes the “+” that appears indicates pregnancy, and the “-” indicates its absence. In addition, digital tests allow you to find out, if the result is positive, and the approximate gestational age with an error of two weeks.

The indicator is highlighted under the "+" sign. Some models are equipped with additional functions: with a positive answer, the approximate date of birth is calculated and shown, and with a negative answer, the most favorable for conception. The hypersensitivity of this type of tests allows you to get a result 4 days before the delay. The high price can be attributed to the disadvantages of this type of test.

How often tests are wrong

Even modern highly sensitive tests can show an incorrect result, both positive (2 strips) if there is no pregnancy, and negative (1 line) despite the fact that fertilization did occur.

Whether a pregnancy test can be wrong and how often it happens depends on many factors:

• whether the storage conditions specified by the manufacturers were observed;
• how accurately the instructions were followed during the test;
• whether a large volume of liquid or foods with a high liquid content were consumed before the test;
• stale urine;
• hygiene standards were violated during the test;
• have kidney disease and high protein content in the urine.

Despite the high percentage of reliability declared by the manufacturers, the result of home testing is still not 100% reliable.

The test strip most often gives an inaccurate result if it is overexposed or underexposed, and it also requires morning urine.

Plate tests are more accurate because only the tip is immersed in the urine, the urine moves upward and reacts with the reagent.

What tests are most accurate

Which of the tests is the most accurate is impossible to say unequivocally. One thing is clear - only ultrasound and examination by a specialist can give a 100% guarantee, since the principle of operation of all tests is not based on determining directly pregnancy, but on detecting the content of chorionic gonadotropin in the urine, and it can be increased for other reasons.

In the early stages, its indicator in the urine is insignificant and insufficient to obtain a reliable result. In the blood, the level of hCG rises faster, so a blood test allows you to establish the presence of pregnancy in the first days after fertilization.

The inkjet test is recognized by many users as the most accurate and convenient. The only requirement is to refrain from urinating for several hours (about 4) for a more reliable result.

The most accurate, according to most, is the "blue" test, which is a stick that is directly inserted into the vagina. In case of pregnancy, upon contact with the cervix, it turns blue.

How to tell if a test is wrong

Whether a pregnancy test can be wrong, it's impossible to say with 100% certainty... You can determine whether the test was wrong or not by performing repeated procedures with an interval of 2 days. With the correct procedure, following all the prescribed instructions and choosing a quality test, the likelihood that the test is incorrect is minimal.

If all repeated tests show a negative result, and menstruation has not come on time, you need to visit a doctor and do a blood test and ultrasound. Even if the result is positive, there is no need to postpone a visit to the gynecologist in order to make sure that there are no pathologies in the development of the embryo.

Error reasons

If you suspect pregnancy, regardless of whether the test is positive or not, you should check with your doctor to get a reliable answer.

There are many reasons why a pregnancy test may have a false result:

Why does a false positive result appear?

A false positive response when testing for pregnancy is quite rare and the reasons for this result are as follows:

• conducting a test in the postpartum period or immediately after the removal of an ectopic pregnancy, or after an abortion, when the hCG level has not yet had time to decrease;
• if less than 10 days have passed since the last intake of hormonal preparations containing human gonadotropin;
• if a course of treatment for infertility was carried out through hormone therapy;
• the presence of a tumor in the body that produces hCG;
• poor quality or expired tests;
• violation of test instructions.

Why does a false negative result appear?

Whether a pregnancy test can be wrong, despite the fact that all the signs accompanying pregnancy are obvious, worries especially in anticipation of the long-awaited conception.

The test may give an incorrect result if the test is not timely, which was carried out on the first day when menstruation did not start, and at the same time a test with low sensitivity was used. This result is called false negative and is much more common than false positive.

An erroneously negative pregnancy test can be caused by one of the following:

Can the test be wrong before the delay

If the test is carried out very early, the chance of obtaining a false negative result increases, since the desired concentration of hCG in the female urine has not yet been reached and the reagent cannot determine it. However, hypersensitive tests are able to respond to the content of gonadotropin already at a level of 10 units. per ml. Such tests can be used without waiting for the start of the delay.

If conception has taken place, the concentration of hCG by the first day of the delay is already about 50 units / ml, therefore, some modern tests can be carried out before the start of the delay. For greater confidence, the test should be repeated after a while.

If a less sensitive test is used before the expected period, the result will be falsely negative. The concentration of gonadotropin in the blood is several times higher than in the urine, therefore, if you need to find out about a possible pregnancy immediately, you need to donate blood for analysis.

Can the test be wrong for 3, 4, 5, 6 days of delay

The accuracy of the test depends a lot on when it was taken. The more time has passed since fertilization (it occurs later than the moment of the alleged conception), the more accurate the test indicators.

A sensitive test, subject to the necessary requirements, is able to quite accurately determine the fact of pregnancy already on the 3rd day of the delay. Such tests respond to the concentration of hCG from 10 to 25 units. for 1 ml.

The less sensitive will not show a result until the level of the hormone reaches 25 units / ml. Gonadotropin reaches its maximum by 2-3 months of pregnancy, after which its level begins to decrease.

How to choose the right pregnancy test

To minimize the likelihood of getting an erroneous test answer, you should:

How to do a pregnancy test correctly

To get the most accurate test results, you must adhere to certain recommendations:

How many tests to do for an accurate result

To get the most accurate answer to an exciting question, you need to do several tests with an interval of 2 or 3 days, and it is desirable that they be from different manufacturers. In this case, you must strictly follow the instructions in the attached instructions and observe all hygiene standards.

How else to clarify the result

Can a pregnancy test be wrong? Of course it can! But even if his testimony is in doubt, a woman often feels life emerging in her by changes in well-being even before the test.

The main symptoms that allow you to suspect pregnancy:

• dizziness;
• heaviness and pain in the lower abdomen;
• nausea;
• an increase in temperature to 37-37.5 degrees;
• sensitivity to odors;
• a change in taste preferences;
• breast augmentation;
• frequent urination;
• drowsiness;
• the appearance of age spots.

One of the first symptoms of the onset of pregnancy is an increased basal temperature. This temperature is measured either orally, in the rectum, or in the vagina.

Before ovulation, the basal temperature is below 37 degrees Celsius, at the time of ovulation and in the second half of the cycle, the temperature rises by 0.4 degrees and returns to normal a couple of days before or on the day of the onset of menstruation. If the temperature has not dropped and menstrual bleeding has not started, the likelihood that pregnancy has occurred is high.

There are many alternative methods for determining pregnancy, although they also do not provide a 100% guarantee that conception has occurred.

Using baking soda

Collect urine in a sterile container and add baking soda to it. If the soda foams and sizzles, the answer is no. If soda falls out on the bottom of the container, the answer is positive - pregnancy has come.

Iodine

You need to drop iodine into a container with urine. If the iodine is dissolved, there is no pregnancy.
If the drop lingers on the surface for a few seconds, then conception has occurred.

Feeling the pulse of the abdomen

During pregnancy, the blood supply to the uterus and fallopian tubes increases, and, accordingly, the pulse on the abdomen becomes more frequent and well-listened. You need to feel it two fingers below the navel.

It's easy to do a pregnancy test yourself. But even the most expensive test can fail, albeit rarely. Therefore, it is hardly worth relying unconditionally on the test result, whatever it may be. To obtain confirmation of the result, it is recommended to do several tests, observe the terms and instructions for use, and also not delay the visit to the doctor.

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Are pregnancy tests wrong:

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