You are wondering if you could be pregnant, so you go to the drugstore to pick up an at-home pregnancy test. But when you get there, it is overwhelming. There are so many to choose from! You do not want to waste money and buy one that is not accurate and then have to purchase another one. How can you tell which ones are best? In this article, we will discuss features of various at-home pregnancy tests and their accuracy so you can choose the best one for you. Show
Pregnancy Test FeaturesAt-home pregnancy tests are designed to detect whether or not there is human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in your urine. Most women want tests that can give them test results early, quickly, and accurately. Some features to consider when choosing a home pregnancy test are listed below: Pregnancy Test StripsSome pregnancy tests are so basic they are sold in packages of 10-50 at a time. They are merely testing strips without any plastic covering. To test, you would urinate into a cup, dip the test strip into the urine, and then lay the strip on a flat surface until it is ready to be read. The results display will reveal a small “control pad” and a “result pad.” A line will appear on the result pad if your test is positive. Pregnancy test strips are the least expensive option, particularly if you need to test often. Non-Digital Pregnancy Test SticksPregnancy test sticks are similar to strips except that the tests are housed in plastic so you can hold the stick directly under a urine stream. Like pregnancy strip tests, the result window will display a line if you are pregnant. The common complaint about non-digital test sticks is that the results can be difficult to read, especially if the levels of hCG are low. You can usually purchase them in packages of one to five tests so you can retest if you need to. Digital Pregnancy TestsDigital pregnancy tests display a clearly written “pregnant” or “not pregnant” answer in the result window. This takes away the uncertainty that can accompany a non-digital test as you try to discern if you see a faint positive line. Digital pregnancy tests are most accurate because they reduce human error. They usually cost a little more than non-digital tests. Early Pregnancy TestsSome at-home pregnancy tests are “early pregnancy tests” because they can detect hCG in your urine up to six days before you miss your period. To get the most accurate result, test with first-morning urine or concentrated urine, so the hCG levels are easier to detect if you are pregnant. There are drawbacks to testing that early, though. One – they can detect chemical pregnancies. A chemical pregnancy is a pregnancy that miscarries just after implantation. Many women never know they were pregnant when they experience them. However, now that at-home pregnancy tests can detect the pregnancy hormone so early, they can cause unnecessary anxiety and grief for women. Two – early pregnancy tests have a higher rate of false-negative results because it is too early to detect the hCG hormone. You can usually purchase early pregnancy tests in multiples because of the higher chance you will need to retest after a false negative result. There are many different brands of pregnancy tests to choose from and it could be overwhelming. Willow Womens Center can give you a definitive answer with our free pregnancy-related services. Since all tests are most accurate after you have missed your period, we suggest waiting until a few days after your missed period to schedule your appointment by calling 608-312-2025 or by using our online scheduler. Get the Answers You NeedIf your at-home pregnancy test was positive, or you just think you might be pregnant, contact Willow Womens Center by calling 608-312-2025 for a confidential appointment. Our caring support team will help you consider all your options, so you can make the informed decision that is right for you. Life Dmitry V. Petrenko/Fotolia When it came to pregnancy tests the first time I tried to conceive, I was a total test snob. I bought the fanciest digital tests — I was pretty sure it would gently sing the results to me from the toilet. But are digital pregnancy tests better than regular pregnancy tests? There are so many tests on the market right now. A simple Amazon search yielded 33 pages of results. Everything from the most basic "pee in a cup and swirl" to ones with a countdown timer and calculation of due date. They vary hugely in price, too. Those medical-grade swirly tests are about $8 for 25 tests. (That's practically free.) Whereas those tests that are ergonomically designed to fit in your palm as you still pee all over your hand, and tell you how far along you are, can be upwards of $20. But is one test actually better than another? It's pretty easy to believe that they would be, given all the fancy packaging and neat design features. I mean, it's a stick that tells you how far along you are, if you're pregnant, what your astrological sign is, and whether or not you plan on voting in the next election, right? Are they better though? Are digital pregnancy tests better than regular pregnancy tests? According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), no. Not really. Once you've missed your period, all pregnancy tests are about the same in accuracy. They all measure the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone present in the urine, and with varying levels of sensitivity. So while one test may register a pregnancy days before your missed period, another may need to be used the day you miss your period. However, the Mayo Clinic cautioned women to wait until they've missed their period before they take the test to avoid a possibly incorrect result. Since virtually every test, according to outside lab test Craig Medical, has the same level of accuracy at this point, judgement should be based on personal preference. If you don't mind the swish and swirl, you're probably OK with the bulk medical grade tests, which oddly score the highest in customer satisfaction on Amazon. If you aren't quite there yet, you're probably going to want the droplet tests or the analog pregnancy test sticks. They're uncomplicated and easy to use. However, if your hands are shaking, you feel like you may vomit at any time, and you basically want no questions whatsoever, buy the pricey test. This is definitely one of those times in life where you need to choose what makes you the most comfortable, and is the easiest for you. Alternatively, you could call your OB-GYN for a test at their office, and take the ball out of your hands entirely. Which is more accurate manual or digital pregnancy test?You may be surprised to learn that digital and analog home pregnancy tests work exactly the same way. They may show you your results in a different way, but there is nothing special about the way a digital pregnancy test works, and one type isn't necessarily more accurate than the other.
Can a digital pregnancy test be wrong?Could a positive result be wrong? Although rare, it's possible to get a positive result from a home pregnancy test when you're not actually pregnant. This is known as a false-positive.
Are digital pregnancy tests more or less sensitive?Digital tests, on the other hand, are less sensitive and may require more hCG — which is why you should wait until you've actually missed your period to try this type of test.
How often are digital pregnancy tests wrong?Most home pregnancy tests are reliable, for example Clearblue's tests have an accuracy of over 99% from the day you expect your period, and while it's possible a test showing a negative result is wrong, particularly if you're testing early, getting a false positive is extremely rare.
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Which is more accurate a digital or regular pregnancy test
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