Urine Test to Check Pregnancy: Accuracy and Timing
According to some estimates, more than 20 million home pregnancy tests are taken every year in the US. Among these, nearly 6 million pregnancies are confirmed and discussed with a healthcare provider. Most people prefer to take a urine test to check pregnancy within their homes, as it gives more privacy and comfort.
Urine pregnancy strips find extensive application in home-based testing
In this article, let us address using a urine test to check pregnancy in terms of its accuracy and timing. In addition, some of the well-known urinary test product brands have also been linked for the reader’s convenience.
What is a Urine Test?
A urine test or urinalysis, famously known as the ‘pee in a cup’ test, is a method of checking a urine sample to find out certain bodily parameters. This involves visual inspection for the detection of color or turbidity and microscopic examination for seeing crystals or microbes. In addition, a chemical analysis is also done to quantify the rest of the parameters.
Using a Urine Test to Check Pregnancy
What is It?
Taking a urine test to check pregnancy is one of the easiest ways to confirm if you are expecting. If your test strip shows a positive result, that means you are pregnant. It should be taken after a missed period if you are trying to get pregnant.
Also, in case of an interrupted birth control, people often prefer to take a urine test to check pregnancy. Moreover, it is advised to take a test before starting a new medication or going through a medical procedure to avoid the risk of complications.
How to Take the Test?
It is easy to take a urine test to check pregnancy at home, as it offers a 99% accuracy. Additionally, this method offers privacy and convenience to people by offering a chance to take the test in the comfort of their home. In this regard, the following method should be followed:
- You simply need to pee in a clean and dry container and dip the test strip into it for a specified time.
- You can also do the urine test to check pregnancy by using a dropper. A few drops of the fresh urine sample are to be dropped on the test stick to get the result.
- Another method of taking a urine test to check pregnancy is the stream method, in which the absorbent tip of the test strip is directly exposed to the urine stream for 7 to 10 seconds.
How Does It Work?
A urine test to check pregnancy works by detecting the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone in the urine sample. The hCG is a hormone produced by the body soon after the zygote clings to the walls of the uterus, followed by an increase in its concentration over time.
A test strip used for checking pregnancy contains a piece of reactive paper that reacts with the hCG hormone and detects its presence. However, when the concentration of hCG hormone is low at the start of pregnancy, these test strips produce a negative result. In such a case, the test should be taken again after a few weeks, which will produce a positive result if you are pregnant.
Interpreting the results of a pregnancy test is easy and quick
Urine Test to Check Pregnancy: How Accurate are They?
As mentioned earlier, a pee or urine test to check pregnancy offers 99% accuracy when conducted in the right way. In comparison, taking a blood test to check the levels of hCG is even more accurate. However, to further increase the accuracy of the home-based urine test, always keep in mind the following:
- Read the instructions on the packaging closely before taking the test.
- Keep in mind the time of your ovulation as it impacts the test accuracy.
- Check how sensitive the pregnancy test is.
Additionally, the expiration date on the pregnancy test strips should always be checked, as an expired product cannot offer high accuracy.
What is the Right Time to Take a Urine Test to Check Pregnancy?
Ideally, a urine test to check pregnancy at home should be taken in the morning. This is because the concentration of the hCG hormone is maximum in the first-morning urine. Also, avoid drinking a lot of water before taking the test to reduce the chances of diluting the urine.
In addition, it is also advised to take the test after the first day of your missed period.
How to Interpret a Pregnancy Test Result?
While using a urine test to check pregnancy, its results are shown in the form of a line, color, or symbol on the test strip. Some of the digital test strips display the words “pregnant” or “not pregnant”. Whatever the case may be, the following section sheds light on how to interpret your result and what to do next:
In case of a positive result, you are certainly pregnant, as the chance of getting a false-positive test is very rare. Even if the line or color of the symbol is faint, it does not affect the accuracy of the result. At this stage, it is advised to consult with your doctor to know if you should take another test or need any supplements.
Note: If you get a faint line on the pregnancy test strip, usually it is because, at this stage, your hCG levels are low. Also, some of the test strips generate less bold lines than other brands.
Despite being rare, some people do get a false-positive pregnancy test, which means that they are not pregnant but the strip indicates so. The reason behind this is the presence of certain protein molecules or blood in the urine. In addition, certain medications such as fertility drugs, hypnotics, anticonvulsants, tranquilizers, etc., can also become the cause of a false-positive pregnancy test.
If you get a negative result, there is a higher chance that you are not pregnant. However, you might be pregnant and get a false-negative result due to some of the following reasons:
- The strip being used for a urine test to check pregnancy has expired.
- The procedure followed to conduct the test was wrong.
- The test was taken too soon when there wasn’t enough hCG hormone in the urine sample.
- The fresh pee sample used for taking the test was diluted due to a lot of fluid intake before the procedure.
- You are on certain medications that can produce a false-negative test, i.e. diuretics, antihistamines, etc.
In such a case, it is advised to take a test once again after a week to double-check your results. If you get two different results, consult your doctor for a blood test for confirmation.
If there is an evaporation line on the pregnancy test strip in place of where the positive streak should be, it usually indicates a negative test. Furthermore, if you wait for longer than the suggested duration to read the test results, this issue might appear. Therefore, to be sure, contacting a healthcare provider is advised.
Urine pregnancy test strips are easy to use and give quick results
Pregnancy and Urine Test Strips at Health Supply 770: Features and Specifications
A urine test is performed to check the presence and level of certain markers in the urine sample. In case of a pregnancy test, the test strips detect hCG hormone in the urine sample, which indicates a positive or a negative result.
When it comes to learning about using a urine test to check pregnancy, it is also essential to look into some of the products that many brands manufacture. Some of these well-known brands are also available at Health Supply 770 and have been detailed below, along with their features and purchase links:
DTG-HCG25 Clarity HCG Pregnancy Urine Strip, CS25
DTG-HCG25 Clarity HCG Pregnancy Urine Strip, CS25
Product Details
DTG-HCG25 Clarity HCG pregnancy urine strips by Clarity Diagnostics are easy-to-use products that provide rapid results, i.e., within 5 to 10 minutes. These are employed by dipping them into a urine sample, followed by reading the results.
Moreover, these DTG-HCG25 Clarity HCG pregnancy urine strips offer 99% accuracy which indicates a narrow chance of error. With their early detection feature, the product can be used to detect pregnancy as early as 4 to 5 days before the missed period.
Furthermore, these DTG-HCG25 Clarity HCG pregnancy urine strips are cost-effective as well and are available over-the-counter (OTC).
McKesson Medsurg 5002 Test Kit, Preg HCG Urine/Serum (25/KT)
Product Details
McKesson Medsurg 5002 hCG urine/serum pregnancy test kits are combo cassette testing products that can rapidly detect the presence and amount of human chorionic gonadotropin or hCG hormone in the urine (20 mIU/mL) or serum (10 mIU/mL) sample. Being CLIA-waived for urine and CLIA-moderately complex for serum analysis, the product is extensively used for home-based pregnancy tests using a urine sample.
Moreover, these McKesson Medsurg 5002 hCG urine/serum pregnancy test kits have more than 99% accuracy and are suitable for in vitro diagnostic use only. To further enhance the overall product accuracy, procedural controls have also been built into the product.
Furthermore, these McKesson Medsurg 5002 hCG urine/serum pregnancy test kits are capable of producing a positive result within 3 minutes. As the product is free from natural rubber latex, these are suitable for people with a sensitive skin type.
Quidel Corp 20110 Test Kit, Preg hCG Serum/Urine Quickvue 1STP(12KT/
Product Details
Quidel Corp 20110 hCG serum/urine-based pregnancy test strips are known to give results within 3 minutes when the sample used is urine. However, with serum, the product takes up to 5 minutes. When it comes to interpreting the test results, a two-point endpoint allows easy interpretation.
Moreover, these Quidel Corp 20110 hCG serum/urine-based pregnancy test strips come in the form of a kit that includes 50 test cassettes, 50 pipettes, a package insert, as well as a procedure card to ensure that the user has a proper understanding of the usage method.
Furthermore, these Quidel Corp 20110 hCG serum/urine-based pregnancy test strips do not need special storage conditions, as they can be kept at room temperature.
Quidel Corp 178 Test Kit, Preg hCG Serum/Urine Cards QS (30/KT)
Product Details
Quidel Corp 178 preg hCG serum/urine pregnancy test cards are capable of detecting the presence of hCG hormone in the urine or serum sample, even when the hormone level in the body is low. Therefore, the product can detect pregnancy as early as 2 to 3 days before the expected date of period.
Moreover, these Quidel Corp 178 preg hCG serum/urine pregnancy test cards can give results within 3 and 5 minutes for urine (20 mIU/mL) and serum (10 mIU/mL) samples, respectively. As for the results, the test strips indicate two-color plus and minus endpoints for easy interpretation.
Urine test to check pregnancy offers high accuracy and reliability
The products mentioned in this article, while learning about using a urine test to check pregnancy, along with many other medical supplies, can be purchased from Health Supply 770, a reliable name when it comes to medical products. They have a 30-day money-back guarantee and provide your products to you in the shortest possible time. Click the link at the end of the article to check the wide range of urinalysis-related products.
Conclusion
Taking a urine test to check pregnancy is the easiest, non-invasive, and one of the most accurate ways. As the test can be taken at home, the method also gives an advantage to people who are more comfortable in their home settings.
However, when it comes to using a urine test to check pregnancy, keep in mind that the correct method, when employed in the right way, gives reliable results. Otherwise, in case of an incorrect procedure or expired test strips, the chances of getting a false-positive or false-negative test increase.
Considering their importance, urine test strips should be kept in healthcare facilities as well as in home settings to use whenever necessary. For purchasing different types of urine test products while learning about how to prepare for a urine test, reliable vendors like Health Supply 770 should be approached. They ensure the provision of quality products along with satisfactory services.
References
https://www.fda.gov/consumers/womens-health-topics/pregnancy-exposure-registries
Read also
Understanding Your Urine Test Results: What Each Marker Means
How to Prepare for a Urine Test: Everything You Need to Know
