Pregnancy Tests
By Kellee Reid
The two most commonly used tests to determine pregnancy are the blood and urine tests. These tests work by detecting a special hormone in the blood or urine that a woman produces during pregnancy. This hormone, called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), is usually referred to as "the pregnancy hormone".
An at home pregnancy test is most frequently a urine test. It detects the pregnancy hormone by inserting the designated tip of the test in the urine stream then waiting a few moments to read the results as directed in the packaging. These are easy to use, private and inexpensive. Most are quick and very accurate, claiming a 99% accuracy rate. You can buy them at drug and discount stores without a prescription. False positives are very rare, but a false negative is possible if the test is used before the body has produced enough HCG to be detected. False negatives can be avoided if you have waited until you have missed the first day of your expected period, or about 2 weeks after you ovulate. Some tests today claim that they can detect the HCG hormone 4-5 days before this but confirming a negative result with a second test a few days or a week later is always wise. Most women follow a positive home test result with a trip to the doctor for confirmation and prenatal care.
Be aware however that medication, containing HCG, can result in a false positive on your home test though most over-the-counter and prescription drugs will not affect test results.
Blood test results may take a few hours or a day, and usually require a trip to the doctor or lab. There are two types of blood tests for pregnancy. The first, a qualitative HCG blood test, will give you a simple positive or negative result, similar to a urine test. This test is not always as accurate as the quantitative blood test (or beta HCG test), which will measure the exact amount of HCG in the blood. The beta test's ability to pick up small traces of HCG in the blood is what makes this the more accurate test.
Be sure that if you discover a positive result from a pregnancy test that you contact your midwife, doula or doctor to ensure the best support for you and your baby.
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