How to check your hcg levels at home

Urine hCG Level Test: Purpose, Procedure, and Risks

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When To Take, Types & Accuracy

Overview

How Does a Pregnancy Test Work?

What is a pregnancy test?

A pregnancy test is a way to determine if you’re pregnant. If your pregnancy test is positive, it means you’re pregnant. If the test is negative, it means you aren’t pregnant. Pregnancy tests work by detecting human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), a hormone your body makes when you’re pregnant.

From the very beginning of pregnancy, your body starts to go through changes to support the cells that will develop into your baby. One thing that happens very quickly is the production of HCG. If you’re pregnant, your body starts to produce more HCG. Your HCG levels start to build up once the fertilized egg implants in your uterus — about six to 10 days after conception.

There are two main types of pregnancy tests — urine tests and blood tests. Often, you’ll take a urine test at home with a home pregnancy test. This type of test is available over the counter (you don’t need a prescription from your healthcare provider) and in a variety of price ranges. Blood tests to check for pregnancy happen in your healthcare provider’s office and involve giving a sample of your blood. The other way to confirm a pregnancy is by using an ultrasound. Your provider performs an ultrasound in their office.

There are several reasons why you might take a pregnancy test. You could be trying to get pregnant and hoping for a positive result. You might have experienced an issue with your birth control. You might even be about to have a medical procedure or start a new medication that could be complicated by pregnancy. No matter what the reason, if you ever have any questions about your test results, the best thing to do is reach out to your healthcare provider.

What hormone levels are checked for a pregnancy test?

Pregnancy tests look for an elevated amount of HCG. Levels of HCG rise quickly – doubling every few days in the first weeks of pregnancy. The placenta produces HCG. Only pregnant people have a placenta, which develops shortly after a fertilized egg attaches to your uterine wall.

When should I take a pregnancy test?

If you think you could be pregnant, it’s a good idea to take a test and make sure. Home pregnancy tests can differ in how early they’ll detect a pregnancy. In many cases, you might get a positive result from an at-home test as early as 10 days after conception. For a more accurate result, wait until after you’ve missed your period to take a test. Remember, if you take a test too soon, it could be negative even if you’re pregnant. If you get a negative test and then miss your period, take another test.

What time should I take a pregnancy test?

In general, the best time is when you have your first morning pee. However, some pregnancy tests are sensitive enough to detect HCG no matter what time of day you take the test. When possible, try to wait until it’s been three hours since your last pee before you take the test. You could also take two pregnancy tests to confirm you get the same result.

Test Details

How do pregnancy tests work?

When you take a pregnancy test, it’s looking for the amount of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in your body. You can find HCG in your pee or blood. HCG needs time to build up in your body. Each day of early pregnancy, your body will create more HCG. As the weeks go on, you’ll have more and more HCG in your body, which will make it more likely that a pregnancy test will show as positive. This means if you take a test too soon, it will come back negative.

Pregnancy tests work by reacting to the amount of HCG in either your pee or blood. In a urine test, a piece of reactive paper detects the HCG. This test might show a plus sign, double vertical lines or even the word “pregnant.” Different tests will show a positive result in unique ways. Read the directions that come with the test to know what a positive result will look like. For example, most tests have a control window that shows up first. Seeing a symbol in this window will tell you that the test is working. Keep in mind that different brands of tests will take different amounts of time to show a result.

If you take a blood test, your provider will take a sample of your blood and send it to a lab. The lab will determine the amount of HCG in your blood. Your provider will contact you with your results.

What are the different types of pregnancy tests?

There are two main types of pregnancy tests: urine and blood tests.

Urine tests are typically done at home — though you can have a urine test done at your healthcare provider’s office — while your provider performs a blood test.

At-home pregnancy test

An at-home test uses your pee to look for HCG. They contain special strips that detect HCG. Most at-home pregnancy tests are about 99% effective when used correctly. That’s about the same accuracy rate as pregnancy tests done in your healthcare provider’s office. These tests are available in most drug or grocery stores. They’re easy to use and inexpensive. It’s important to read the instructions on these tests before taking them.

There are three ways to take an at-home pregnancy test:

Pee in a clean cup. Then, place one to several drops of your pee on a chemical strip.
Place the pregnancy test strip in your urine stream while you pee.
Pee in a clean cup and then dip the test strip in the pee while it’s still in the cup.

For many of these tests, HCG can be detected in your urine about 10 days after conception. However, taking it after you miss your period reduces the chance of getting a false-negative result. A missed period typically happens around 14 days after conception.

There are a few things to keep in mind when you take a home pregnancy test, including:

Use your first morning pee if you can. This is the time of day when your HCG levels will be the most concentrated and easily detected. If you do it at another time of day, try to make sure your pee has been in your bladder for at least three hours.
Don’t drink excessive amounts of fluids before you take a pregnancy test. This can dilute (thin out) your HCG levels.
Check the expiration date on the package.
Read the directions that come with the test thoroughly before starting the test, and follow every step exactly.

Blood test

Another type of pregnancy test is a blood test. Blood tests are rarely done because they’re expensive and tend to have the same result as a urine test. This type of pregnancy test is done using a small sample of blood from a vein in your arm. This blood test not only detects whether the pregnancy hormone is in your body, but can also determine how much of the hormone is present. This is helpful for when your provider needs to know the exact amount of HCG in your blood, not just if there’s HCG in your blood.

A blood test for pregnancy might be done in special circumstances, such as for people who are having fertility treatments or when the healthcare provider thinks there might be a problem.

These blood tests are slightly more sensitive than urine tests because they can detect very small levels of HCG. That means they can provide a more accurate answer very early on in pregnancy — within seven to 10 days after conception. For this test, your blood sample is taken at your provider’s office or the hospital, then sent to a lab for analysis. Results might take anywhere from a few hours to two days.

Your provider might also choose to use a blood test to compare HCG levels during the pregnancy. Your HCG levels usually double about every two days during the first few weeks of pregnancy. If the levels don’t rise, it might suggest a problem with the pregnancy. Extremely high HCG levels might mean that you’re carrying twins or that there’s an issue with the pregnancy.

Are all home pregnancy testing methods the same?

Most brands of at-home pregnancy tests are reliable. Although the exact testing method of different pregnancy tests can differ from one type to the other, they all look for HCG in your body. If you’re using an at-home test, most will give you the same result. The difference with your at-home tests will be the sensitivity of the test. Some might be more sensitive than others and produce a positive result (detect HCG in your urine) sooner than others. For the most accurate reading, it’s still recommended that you wait until you’ve missed your period. At that point, all tests should be accurate.

What are the advantages of using a home pregnancy test?

There are quite a few advantages to using a home pregnancy test, including:

Pregnancy tests are inexpensive.
They’re easy to use.
Home tests provide results quickly.

According to pregnancy kit manufacturers, most at-home pregnancy tests are 98% to 99% accurate when you use them exactly as instructed. Positive results can be trusted, but you can get a false negative result if you take the test too soon.

Blood tests tend to be more expensive and inconvenient. However, blood tests can detect pregnancy sooner and are the only tests to show specific amounts of HCG in your body.

Is there anything you shouldn’t do before a pregnancy test?

Most pregnancy tests don’t ask you to avoid activities or change your lifestyle. The only medication that may interfere with your results is fertility medication containing HCG.

Here are some helpful tips you should follow for the best results:

Read the instructions carefully before doing anything.
Wait until you miss your period to take the test.
Use your first pee or pee from a full bladder. Chugging water before your test in order to pee may affect your results.

Results and Follow-Up

How long does it take to get results of a pregnancy test?

Each home pregnancy test is different. Read the instruction manual carefully. It will tell you how many minutes to wait for your result. In most cases, you can expect to wait three minutes for your result. Keep in mind that if you wait too long to check your result, it may be inaccurate.

Even a faint line on a pregnancy test could mean you’re pregnant. Your test will also have a control window that indicates that you took the test correctly. The instructions with your test will outline all of this. If you have any questions or remain unsure of your result after several tests, please contact your healthcare provider.

A faint line is different than an evaporation line. An evaporation line may appear if you wait too long to check your results — meaning your pee is dry. Most tests ask you to read your results before 10 minutes. This ensures the pee doesn’t dry up and you don’t get an evaporation line.

How soon will a pregnancy test be positive?

It depends on which type of test you use. Some at-home pregnancy tests may be able to detect pregnancy before you miss your period. However, if you want the most accurate result, it’s best to wait until you have missed your period.

How accurate are pregnancy tests?

Pregnancy tests are about 99% accurate when you use them correctly.

How common are false results on pregnancy tests?

False results — either a false negative or a false positive — mainly happen due to using the test incorrectly. The main reason for a false-negative is testing too early. You might also get a false-negative if you use a home test incorrectly, such as using too much or too little pee. It’s important to follow the directions on your test kit to make sure you get an accurate result.

Can a positive test be wrong?

A false positive is rare, but it can happen. This may be the case if you experience a chemical pregnancy or lose the pregnancy shortly after the fertilized egg attaches to your uterine wall.

What type of pregnancy test confirms pregnancy first?

A blood test confirms pregnancy first because it can detect a smaller amount of HCG as compared to a test that uses your pee.

Are there any medications that can change the result of my pregnancy test?

For the most part, medications don’t change your pregnancy test results. Antibiotics, pain relievers and alcohol don’t impact your test results.

However, fertility drugs are one exception. These medications can sometimes cause a false-positive on your pregnancy test. If you’re taking fertility medications, reach out to your healthcare provider about your results to make sure they’re accurate.

What should I do after getting a positive pregnancy test?

If you take a pregnancy test at home and it’s positive, there are a few things you should do, including:

Take your prenatal vitamins. Pick a vitamin with folic acid included in the ingredient list. Start taking these while you’re trying to conceive, if possible. This is because the folic acid can help prevent complications during fetal development.
Call your healthcare provider for an appointment. This appointment might not happen for several weeks — but it’s a good idea to call your provider and make an appointment.
Make sure to pursue healthy habits like not drinking alcohol or smoking during pregnancy. You may also want to limit the amount of caffeine you consume each day during pregnancy.

Additional Details

Will an ectopic pregnancy show up on a pregnancy test?

Yes, you’ll still have a positive result on a pregnancy test if you have an ectopic pregnancy.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Pregnancy tests are how a person finds out if they’re pregnant. Most people take a pregnancy test at home using their pee. However, you can also take a pregnancy test at your provider’s office using a blood sample or pee. For the most accurate results, wait until you miss your period to take a home pregnancy test. If you use pregnancy tests correctly, the results are 99% accurate. Contact your healthcare provider if you have questions about the results of your pregnancy test.

We will teach you to understand pregnancy tests: when to do, what determines the accuracy, whether to believe a negative result and where to buy

There are two types of pregnancy tests: home (urine test at home) and clinical (blood test in the hospital). Both home and clinical tests check the same thing - the presence of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the biomaterial (urine or blood). HCG is produced by the cells that eventually form the placenta.

What you need to know about home tests: when to do a test correctly, what a negative result means, how to find the most accurate one and where to buy. "All pharmacies" answer these questions.

Why do tests determine pregnancy based on hCG?

This is the simplest and most reliable pregnancy indicator. It is secreted by the cells of the embryo and the future placenta. As soon as a fertilized egg implants in the lining of her uterus, the hormone enters the blood (sometimes as early as six days after the fertilization of the egg). After that, the level of hCG increases very quickly: it doubles every 48 hours until a period of 14 weeks. Gradually, excess hCG begins to be released into the urine, and there it is detected by home tests.

And everything is simple there: there is hCG - there is a pregnancy, no hCG - there is no pregnancy.

When to test?

After ovulation, it takes about a week for the egg to travel from the ovary to the uterus. It can be fertilized at any time: either in the fallopian tube, or upon reaching the uterus. But HCG production begins only after implantation of fertilized eggs into the uterine wall.

Predicting exactly when fertilization occurs is difficult: spermatozoa can live in a woman's body for up to five days. This is the reason why most home pregnancy tests advise women to wait: it is better to take the test on the second or third day of delay or approximately 15-16 days after ovulation.

If the cycle is unstable, the ideal time for the test is defined differently:

If periods occur at intervals of less than 21 days or more than 35 days, and if their periods vary from month to month, cycles are considered irregular. In these cases, a pregnancy test should be done 36 days after the last menstrual period or four weeks after the last unprotected sex.

Test negative. So no pregnancy?

This is not true: the test may be false negative. If a few days after the negative result, menstruation has not appeared, repeat the test. The second negative result will be more reliable, but even a weak second strip should be interpreted as a positive test.

Why does the manual recommend taking the test in the morning?

The probability of obtaining a reliable result is higher when the biomaterial - urine - is the most concentrated: it contains more hCG. It happens in the morning. Therefore, most tests recommend doing an analysis immediately after waking up, on the second day after missing a period.

Are there alternatives to pregnancy tests?

Among the exact tests - only blood test for hCG. No folk tests (with soda, iodine, potassium permanganate or boiling urine) are unreliable. Modern tests remain the most reliable and simple way to determine pregnancy.

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How accurate are home pregnancy tests and how to choose the most accurate one?

Home pregnancy test kits claim to be 97 to 99% accurate when used correctly.

An important indicator in this matter is sensitivity. You can determine it by the box with the test: the smaller the number indicated on the package, the more sensitive the test. For example, a test with a sensitivity of 20 IU/L (international units per liter) detects pregnancy earlier than a test with a sensitivity of only 50 IU/L.

The cost of a pregnancy test can also be an indication of its sensitivity: more expensive ones tend to detect pregnancy earlier.

Why can a test fail?

Several factors can affect the accuracy of a home pregnancy test:

When the test is taken. If you take the test too soon after the intended conception, the test will show a negative result.
Violations of instructions. If you do not follow the instructions, you can miss an important detail of testing and get a false result.
Physiological features. Some women simply don't produce enough hCG during pregnancy to be detected by home tests. In this case, pregnancy can only be determined with a blood test.

Remember: with any test, false positives or negative results are always possible. It is best to confirm the test twice and consult your doctor.

Where to buy and how to choose a pregnancy test?

You can buy a pregnancy test at any pharmacy - you can choose the right one from a huge number of brands. All of them check one thing - the presence of the hCG hormone in the urine. However, depending on the principle of operation, there are several types of tests.

Important: before making an appointment with a doctor, it is recommended to take the test at least twice.

Inkjet tests

Inkjet tests work like this: you need to urinate on a stick or strip and wait for the result - a certain color or symbol. To learn how to interpret the result, read the instructions.

Immersion Test Strips

Immersion tests work by collecting urine in a cup and then either placing the test device in it or dropping small drops of urine onto it. If the urine contains hCG, this will cause a color change in the indicator part of the test after a few minutes.

Digital pregnancy tests

Digital pregnancy tests make it easier to interpret the test result. Instead of faint lines, barely visible pluses or minuses, and changes in color, the digital test gives a result that is easy to read - either pregnant or not.

How home pregnancy tests work

Mikhalina Akulova

nanobiotechnologist

When used correctly, home tests can accurately determine whether a woman is pregnant or not.

We tell you how these tests work, how they differ from laboratory tests, and what needs to be done to get a reliable result.

Go see a doctor

Our articles are written with love for evidence-based medicine. We refer to authoritative sources and go to doctors with a good reputation for comments. But remember: the responsibility for your health lies with you and your doctor. We don't write prescriptions, we make recommendations. Relying on our point of view or not is up to you.

What is a pregnancy test

Rapid pregnancy tests are test strips and other medical devices that allow you to understand at home whether a woman is pregnant or not. They can be different: paper, plastic and even electronic, but the principle of operation is the same for all. There are also laboratory pregnancy tests.

Human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG, is used as a marker in all pregnancy tests. This is a hormone that is intensively produced from the first hours of pregnancy. As it develops, its concentration in the blood and urine increases.

HCG level - American Academy of Pregnancy Management

It increases daily and peaks around the eighth to eleventh week. Then it starts to slowly decline.

HCG - Medscape

Non-pregnant women and men have very little hCG in the norm: it should be no more than 2 IU / l in the blood. For comparison, during pregnancy it is more than 25 IU / l.

hCG can be measured:

In the blood - this will be a laboratory test that is carried out in a medical institution.
In urine - this is how home tests work, which can be done anywhere.

How rapid home pregnancy tests work

Home pregnancy tests work on the basis of immunochromatographic analysis. The same principle is based, for example, on rapid tests for coronavirus infection.

Pregnancy Testing - NHS

The absorbent portion of the test is coated with special dye bound proteins. If hCG is present in the urine, it will bind to these proteins, resulting in the formation of colored complexes.

Evolution of Lateral Flow Immunoassay Systems - Lateral Flow Immunoassay Book

With the flow of liquid, these complexes will rise higher - to the test strip. There are already other proteins that will “catch” the colored hCG complexes, and the strip will appear on the test. If there is no or too little hCG in the urine, this strip will not appear.

The second - control - strip contains proteins of the third group, which already bind to the pure colored protein, without hCG. This strip appears regardless of the result of the control and confirms that the test is not damaged.

If the woman is not pregnant, there will be one line on the test. And if there is a pregnancy, then two.

All pregnancy tests work this way, even if they don't look like a test strip at all.

This is how home pregnancy tests work: in the reaction zone, hCG binds to colored complexes, then they settle in the test zone. And particles of colored protein settle in the control zone. This is how home pregnancy tests work: in the reaction zone, hCG binds to colored complexes, then they settle in the test zone. And in the control zone particles of colored protein settle

How home pregnancy tests differ from laboratory ones

The main advantage of home pregnancy tests over laboratory ones is that they can be done anywhere. They are freely sold in pharmacies and supermarkets.

At the same time, they have slightly less sensitivity. So, a laboratory analysis can determine an increase in the level of hCG already on the sixth or eighth day after conception, and most home ones - on the 12th-14th day after conception, usually already after a missed period.

Some home tests can be used up to four days before the expected period, but their accuracy in this case is reduced to 65%.

Although some expensive rapid tests may indicate the estimated gestational age, the doctor will most likely ask for a blood test for hCG or an ultrasound to clarify.

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Comparison of two methods for determining pregnancy

	Laboratory blood test	Home Pregnancy Test
Price	About 500 R	About 150 R
Precision	Accurate; can determine the gestational age	Not as accurate; some tests show an approximate period of
Done	In a laboratory or health facility	Anywhere
Result	After a few hours or even days	A few minutes later

Laboratory blood test

Price

About 500 R

Accuracy

Accurate; You can determine the gestational age of

in the laboratory or medical institution

Result

in a few hours or even days

Pregnancy Test

about 150 p

accuracy

is not so accurate; some tests show an approximate term of

Done

Anywhere

Result

In a few minutes

What are the pregnancy tests for home use

Test strips. Show the result as a bar. For analysis, you need a container for collecting urine. The test is lowered into the container with urine to a certain level, wait a few seconds, then removed. You will see results in about 10 minutes.

Test cassettes. Similar to test strips but requires less urine. The test itself is in a plastic package with two windows. A little urine is dripped into one of them with a pipette. In another, after the time specified by the manufacturer, the result will appear.

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Inkjet tests. The result will be shown as a bar or plus sign, no urine container needed. Such a test must be held under a stream of urine, and then wait for the result to appear.

Electronic or digital tests. The result will appear as text on the screen, sometimes the estimated gestational age will also be indicated. A urine container is not required. Some digital tests can be used four days before the expected period, that is, they are more sensitive than others.

Home pregnancy tests: can you trust the results? — Mayo Clinic

When to Take a Pregnancy Test

Since pregnancy tests rely on the concentration of hCG in the urine, they should not be taken immediately after unprotected intercourse. You need to wait for the moment when pregnancy occurs and the concentration of the hormone rises to a level when the test can recognize it.

Pregnancy takes some time: up to six days until the egg is fertilized, and then another five days before it is implanted in the uterine wall. From that moment on, pregnancy has come, hCG begins to rise - and after a few more days, tests can detect pregnancy.

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Most home tests will work already on the first or second day of the expected menstruation. There are ultra-sensitive options that promise results even earlier - five days before the delay.

If menstruation is irregular and a woman does not know when she has her period, then it is worth doing the test at least 21 days after unprotected intercourse.

Contraceptive effectiveness - NHS

You should also check for pregnancy in case of changes in health, even if the couple is protected: with swelling or soreness of the breast, frequent nausea, pain in the abdomen. With any method of contraception, there is still some chance of getting pregnant. For example, when using condoms, it can reach 18%.

How accurate are home pregnancy tests? If pregnancy has occurred, then the test will be more accurate in the first days after the delay in menstruation, because then the level of hCG is higher.

If the test is taken too early, it is more difficult to determine the hormone in the urine and the error of the result is higher. That is why pregnancy tests, which can be done before a missed period, have an accuracy of about 65%.

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In addition, if a woman has irregular periods, it is possible to incorrectly determine the time of their onset and the length of the delay - this can also affect how accurate the result can be expected.

What can affect the results of a home test

When using rapid tests, it is important to carefully read the instructions and follow them. Then it will be possible to increase the reliability of the result. It is also worth checking the expiration date of the test. Expired ones can be returned to a pharmacy or store - the seller is obliged to return the money.

False negative. If the test result is negative, but menstruation still does not come, you can repeat it in three to four days. Perhaps the concentration of hCG in the urine was simply still very low.

A false-negative result for a correctly done test can be:

taking certain hormonal fertility drugs that do not contain hCG. By themselves, they do not affect the test result, but they can change the length of the menstrual cycle. In this case, the test may show a false negative result due to testing too early.

False positive. This is when there is no pregnancy, but a second line appears on the test. This rarely happens, it is worth consulting a doctor, because it can be caused by some diseases.

A false-positive result for a correctly done test can be:

when taking hormonal preparations containing hCG;
recent termination of pregnancy, including spontaneous, when a woman has an imperceptible miscarriage at a very early stage. In this case, hCG may remain in the body, and the test will show a false positive result. This is called a biochemical pregnancy;
ectopic pregnancy;
cysts, some tumor and other diseases of the ovaries;
menopause.

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How to properly use home pregnancy tests

It is better to use morning urine, as it contains the maximum concentration of hCG, which means that you are more likely to get a reliable result. But this is not necessary, the test can be done during the day.

For some tests a few drops of urine are enough, for others it is important to dip the test strip in the liquid for 20-30 seconds. Be sure to check which parts of the dough cannot be wetted.

Especially with , it is important to observe the test time specified by the manufacturer. If you look at the test too early, the result may be a false negative because the reaction has not yet occurred.

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And if you look at the test too late, you will get a false positive result, because after the liquid evaporates, the dye appears anywhere on the strip.

If a control line does not appear on the test, it means that it does not work correctly and it is better to repeat the test again with another one.

How much do home rapid pregnancy tests cost

The price of a pregnancy test depends on the complexity of the design, the need to use additional containers and the reliability of the result.

In general, you can choose any home test that you feel comfortable using. The inkjet test does not require additional utensils, the digital one itself interprets the result, which reduces the likelihood of error and indicates the approximate gestational age. You will have to tinker with the test strip, but this option is cheaper than the others.

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