A couple of weeks have passed since you and your partner did the deed, and now you’re a day late. Could you be pregnant? Whether you are trying to get pregnant or are concerned about an unplanned pregnancy, a home pregnancy test (HPT) is an important tool and can be done in the comfort of your own home.

home pregnancy test

home pregnancy test

But before you rush to the drug store and buy said HPT kit, here’s something you should know.

How Does it Work?

Basically, a home pregnancy test detects the presence of the pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), in your urine.

urine test illustration

urine test illustration, image wikipedia

Your body starts to produce hCG when a fertilised egg implants in your uterus (womb). hCG is secreted by the cells which will go on to form your baby’s placenta. It can be detected in your urine from about six to 14 days after fertilisation.

In the first few days after implantation your levels of hCG rise quickly. Most home pregnancy tests are sensitive enough to detect hCG in your urine on the first day your period is due.

HPTs come in three different formats: test strips, midstream and digital. To use a pregnancy test strip, you will collect a sample of urine (always best to use first morning urine as the hCG will be the most concentrated) in a cup, dip the test strip into the sample for a few seconds, remove the test strip from the sample and allow it to dry on a flat surface.

After a few minutes, you can read the results of the test. The appearance of one line indicates a negative result, while the appearance of two lines (even if one is very faint) indicates a positive result. With a midstream format test, you will urinate directly onto the test strip, allow the test to dry and read the results in a few minutes. Just like with the test strips, the appearance of two lines indicates a positive result for pregnancy. Digital home pregnancy tests show the results with a clear “no” or “yes” display on the screen

The most common types of home pregnancy tests use a test strip or dipstick that you hold in the urine stream or dip into a sample of urine. An area on the end of the dipstick or test strip changes color if hCG is present, meaning you are pregnant.

If you take a home test, it’s important to follow all of the instructions in the package of the home pregnancy test.

How much do home pregnancy tests cost?

Home pregnancy tests vary in price depending on the format you choose and where you purchase the test. At Early-Pregnancy-Tests.com, our pregnancy test strips are offered at less than a dollar each, and our midstream tests cost $2.25 each. Competing brands of midstream format pregnancy tests sold at your local drugstore retail for between $6 and $10 each.

Negative test results

If the test result is negative, you may not be pregnant. However, negative results are less reliable. For example, if you do a pregnancy test too early, you could be pregnant but there may not be enough HCG in your body to give a positive test result.

Pregnancy tests vary in their sensitivity (how soon they can detect HCG and what level of HCG needs to be present). You can find information on the packaging about how sensitive your test is. If you still think you’re pregnant after a negative result, wait a week and try again or make an appointment to see your GP.

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