KNOW ABOUT PREGNANCY TEST
Pregnancy test helps you to know whether you are pregnant or not. Lets get an answer for some questions like What is Pregnancy test name ,What is early pregnancy test, When to take pregnancy test, pregnancy test at home, pregnancy test price, pregnancy test kit result, how it is to be done, when to do it, what precautions to take while doing it.
1. Types of pregnancy tests
Now let’s discuss what are the pregnancy tests available. So answer to this question are, that there are two types of pregnancy tests that are available. These are blood tests and urine tests. Now lets discuss both pregnancy test one by one.
1.1 Blood tests
Now lets understand what is pregnancy blood test . And what is the pregnancy blood test name? . Pregnancy can be detected by blood tests earlier than the urine tests. Now the question arises how early can a blood test detect pregnancy before missed period so answer to this is it is usually 10 days after ovulation.
What is the name of blood pregnancy test ?
Pregnancy blood test name is quantitative human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) test . These tests measures the pregnancy hormone beta HCG level in the blood.
Why beta HCG test is performed ?
Now the question arises , what does beta hCG do in pregnancy? . This test can also be used in diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy. In normal pregnancy , the level of this beta HCG test should double in 48 hours. If the level does not double up it may suggest ectopic pregnancy. If the level is falling it may suggest a miscarriage.
Also read : WHAT IS MISCARRIAGE ? SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
1.2 Urine tests
Now we understand about what is urine pregnancy test. Urine test is done to know the presence of chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in urine. Urine pregnancy test can be done at home also. The kits are available in the pharmacy shops and are very easy to use.
How to do urine pregnancy test ?
For best result of urine test it should be done in the morning. The chances of getting accurate result is more in the morning sample, due to presence of more HCG.
Steps to be followed while doing pregnancy test
- Collect your urine in a container.
- Using a dropper put 2-3 drops of urine in the well of the kit.
- Observe for 2-3 minutes.
If two lines come then your test is positive.
Sometimes ,Urine pregnancy kits show false negative results also. So if the test result is showing negative and your periods have not come, consult your doctor. He/she may advise blood test for confirmation of pregnancy.
Also See: Foods that can cause miscarriage | foods to be avoided in pregnancy
2. How accurate are pregnancy tests?
Urine home pregnancy test kits accuracy depends on many factors. Blood tests are more accurate.
A home test’s accuracy depends on:
- You have followed the instructions carefully
- After how many days of missed periods you have taken the test
- The sensitivity of the pregnancy test
Results may also be more accurate if you do the test first thing in the morning, when your urine is more concentrated.
Also read : Urinary infections(UTI) During Pregnancy
3. Best time of the day for the pregnancy test?
Best time for doing the urine pregnancy test is by morning sample of urine. It is at this time that your urine is more concentrated and so hcg in urine can be detected by the kit.
If you are confirming your pregnancy by blood test then you can give your blood sample any time of the day.
4. How to get a urine pregnancy kit?
Urine pregnancy kits are available at almost all the pharmacy stores. They can easily be purchased without doctors prescription. Average cost of these kits in India is about ₹ 50. Costs depends upon the brand also.
5. How to interpret the pregnancy test results
If the kit is showing two lines then the test is positive and you are pregnant. If only one line is there then the test is negative and you are not pregnant.
If you get a negative result, you’re probably not pregnant. But the result may be false negative if:-
- Test was taken too soon.Usually test should be done after 3-4 days of missed periods.
- You read the test after 5 min.
- Urine is diluted if you have taken lots of water in past few hours.So its better to take morning sample of urine.
If you get a negative result, wait for 7 days. If period does not come then repeat the pregnancy test.
6. Summary
It may also happen that you took the test twice and got different results. In that case consult your doctor. A blood test is a confirmatory test if there is any confusion.
Also read : HOW TO CALCULATE FERTILE PERIOD
