Pregnancy Test
A woman can find out if she's pregnant by using a pregnancy test, which
checks for the presence of hCG (the pregnancy hormone) in a woman's
blood or urine. Blood tests can detect hCG earlier in a pregnancy than
urine tests can. Some of the home pregnancy tests are more accurate than
others, but all are generally accurate within 97 to 99 percent.
There are two types of tests used to see if a woman is pregnant: blood
and urine tests. Both types look for the presence of a special hormone
that is only present when a woman is pregnant. This hormone, human
chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), is also called the pregnancy hormone.
Urine-Based Pregnancy Tests
Today, many women use a urine test, or home pregnancy test (HPT), to find out if they are pregnant. A home pregnancy test
• Does not cost a lot
• Is easy to use
• Can be done at home
• Is private.
When a woman has a positive result on a home pregnancy test, she needs
to see her healthcare provider right away. The healthcare provider can
confirm a positive test result with a blood pregnancy test and a pelvic
exam
Blood-Based Tests
There are two types of blood pregnancy tests pregnant can get from a healthcare provider:
• Quantitative blood test
• Qualitative blood test.
Quantitative Blood Test
A quantitative blood
pregnancy test (or the beta hCG test) measures the exact amount of hCG
in the blood. This means that this pregnancy test can pick up very small
amounts of hCG, making it a very accurate test
Qualitative Blood Test
A qualitative hCG blood test gives a simple "yes" or "no" answer as to
whether pregnant are pregnant. This pregnancy test is more like a urine
test in terms of its accuracy.
When Can a Pregnancy Test Determine Pregnancy?
Blood
pregnancy tests can pick up hCG earlier in a pregnancy than urine
pregnancy tests can. Blood tests can tell if pregnant are pregnant
about 6 to 8 days after pregnant ovulate (or release an egg from an
ovary).
Urine tests can determine pregnancy about 2 weeks after ovulation. Some
more sensitive urine pregnancy tests can tell if pregnant are pregnant
as early as 6 days after pregnant conceive, or one day after pregnant
miss a menstrual period
Specifics of Home Pregnancy Tests
There are many
types of home pregnancy tests that can be bought over-the-counter at
drug or discount stores. Some pregnancy tests involve collecting the
pregnant urine in a cup and dipping a stick into the urine or putting
some of the urine into a special container with an eyedropper. Other
pregnancy tests are done by placing a stick into the pregnant urine
stream.
Pregnancy tests vary in how long pregnant have to wait for the stick or
container to turn a certain color or have a symbol on it (like a plus
or a minus). All tests come with written instructions. Most pregnancy
tests also have toll-free phone numbers to call if pregnant have any
questions about how to do the test or read the results.
How Accurate Is a Home Pregnancy Test?
Home
pregnancy tests (HPTs) are very accurate. Most brands of home pregnancy
tests say they are 97 to 99 percent accurate, but this can vary with
actual use. Each brand of pregnancy test varies in how sensitive it is
in picking up the pregnancy hormone hCG. If a pregnancy test is not done
correctly, it will be less accurate. Always check the package to make
sure it is not past its expiration date -- if it is, it will not be
accurate.
Most brands of home pregnancy tests tell users to do the test again in a few days, no matter what the results.
If pregnant use a home pregnancy test too early in the pregnant
pregnancy, pregnant may not have enough of the pregnancy hormone hCG in
the pregnant urine to have a positive test result. Most home pregnancy
tests will be accurate if pregnant test the pregnantself around the
time the pregnant period is due (about 2 weeks after pregnant ovulate,
or release an egg from the pregnant ovary). pregnant can get a negative
test result if
A woman can find out if she's pregnant by using a pregnancy test, which
checks for the presence of hCG (the pregnancy hormone) in a woman's
blood or urine. Blood tests can detect hCG earlier in a pregnancy than
urine tests can. Some of the home pregnancy tests are more accurate than
others, but all are generally accurate within 97 to 99 percent.
There are two types of tests used to see if a woman is pregnant: blood
and urine tests. Both types look for the presence of a special hormone
that is only present when a woman is pregnant. This hormone, human
chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), is also called the pregnancy hormone.
Urine-Based Pregnancy Tests
Today, many women use a urine test, or home pregnancy test (HPT), to find out if they are pregnant. A home pregnancy test
• Does not cost a lot
• Is easy to use
• Can be done at home
• Is private.
When a woman has a positive result on a home pregnancy test, she needs
to see her healthcare provider right away. The healthcare provider can
confirm a positive test result with a blood pregnancy test and a pelvic
exam
Blood-Based Tests
There are two types of blood pregnancy tests pregnant can get from a healthcare provider:
• Quantitative blood test
• Qualitative blood test.
Quantitative Blood Test
A quantitative blood
pregnancy test (or the beta hCG test) measures the exact amount of hCG
in the blood. This means that this pregnancy test can pick up very small
amounts of hCG, making it a very accurate test
Qualitative Blood Test
A qualitative hCG blood test gives a simple "yes" or "no" answer as to
whether pregnant are pregnant. This pregnancy test is more like a urine
test in terms of its accuracy.
When Can a Pregnancy Test Determine Pregnancy?
Blood
pregnancy tests can pick up hCG earlier in a pregnancy than urine
pregnancy tests can. Blood tests can tell if pregnant are pregnant
about 6 to 8 days after pregnant ovulate (or release an egg from an
ovary).
Urine tests can determine pregnancy about 2 weeks after ovulation. Some
more sensitive urine pregnancy tests can tell if pregnant are pregnant
as early as 6 days after pregnant conceive, or one day after pregnant
miss a menstrual period
Specifics of Home Pregnancy Tests
There are many
types of home pregnancy tests that can be bought over-the-counter at
drug or discount stores. Some pregnancy tests involve collecting the
pregnant urine in a cup and dipping a stick into the urine or putting
some of the urine into a special container with an eyedropper. Other
pregnancy tests are done by placing a stick into the pregnant urine
stream.
Pregnancy tests vary in how long pregnant have to wait for the stick or
container to turn a certain color or have a symbol on it (like a plus
or a minus). All tests come with written instructions. Most pregnancy
tests also have toll-free phone numbers to call if pregnant have any
questions about how to do the test or read the results.
How Accurate Is a Home Pregnancy Test?
Home
pregnancy tests (HPTs) are very accurate. Most brands of home pregnancy
tests say they are 97 to 99 percent accurate, but this can vary with
actual use. Each brand of pregnancy test varies in how sensitive it is
in picking up the pregnancy hormone hCG. If a pregnancy test is not done
correctly, it will be less accurate. Always check the package to make
sure it is not past its expiration date -- if it is, it will not be
accurate.
Most brands of home pregnancy tests tell users to do the test again in a few days, no matter what the results.
If pregnant use a home pregnancy test too early in the pregnant
pregnancy, pregnant may not have enough of the pregnancy hormone hCG in
the pregnant urine to have a positive test result. Most home pregnancy
tests will be accurate if pregnant test the pregnantself around the
time the pregnant period is due (about 2 weeks after pregnant ovulate,
or release an egg from the pregnant ovary). pregnant can get a negative
test result if
