When you’re anxiously waiting to find out whether you’re pregnant, it’s easy to take a test before a missed period or rip open the box and go for it without reading the instructions. It can’t be that hard, right?
While all pregnancy tests are similar in that they test for the hormone hCG, each one is made differently, with nuances you should know about before you start. Below, we’ll share five mistakes that can lead to incorrect pregnancy test results.
If you want to take a pregnancy test without any second guesses or doubts, schedule an appointment at You Medical.
Did you already receive a positive result on a home test? Come in, and we’ll confirm your pregnancy and see if you qualify for a no-cost, limited diagnostic OB ultrasound for even more information.
Mistake #1. Not Checking the Expiration Date
Did you know that pregnancy tests expire? If your pregnancy test has been sitting in your medicine cabinet or in a drawer for a while, check the small printed date on the box before you take the test.
An expired test can lead to an inaccurate result.
Mistake #2. Not Reading or Following the Instructions
Some pregnancy tests ask you to dip them in a cup of urine for a certain number of seconds, while others ask you to insert the test into a urine stream. Another test asks you to wait three minutes before reading the result, while another is a rapid test.
Take a moment to read the instructions, then follow them to make sure there’s no room for error. If the test sits for a long time before you read the results, an evaporation line can happen, leading to more confusion.
Mistake #3. Missing a Very Light Positive Line
When you’re very early in pregnancy, your test can sometimes result in a very faint positive line.
Remember, any positive line is a positive result, even if it’s barely there. Take another test a day or two later if you’re unsure if your eyes are playing tricks on you. The line should get darker as time goes on, and hCG builds.
Mistake #4. Taking the Pregnancy Test Too Early
Most at-home pregnancy tests are 99% accurate the first day after your missed period.
While early tests can sometimes deliver results sooner, they are often not 99% accurate until this time, too. For example, Clearblue’s early detection test is only 77% accurate six days before a missed period.
Wait until you miss your period to be sure. While you can test an early positive, you can’t trust an early negative result until at least this time.
Mistake #5. Taking the Test After Drinking Lots of Fluids
Taking a pregnancy test right after drinking a water bottle will not help your pregnancy test detect the hormone hCG during a very early pregnancy.
Instead, take your pregnancy test right after you wake up in the morning to increase the likelihood that it detects low hCG levels.
Trade Wondering, for Certainty
Visit You Medical to get the answer to the question you’ve been wondering, “Am I pregnant?”
You can trust your results at our medical clinic, potentially receive a limited diagnostic OB ultrasound, and talk with our licensed medical staff. We are ready to support you during this time and are here to help.
Contact us today to schedule your confidential, no-cost appointment.
