Regardless of whether the pregnancy is planned or undesirable, its presence should be found out as soon as possible. And pharmacy tests of different sensitivity levels help in this. To avoid an error, it is necessary to find out when the pregnancy test will show the exact result.

How long does the test determine pregnancy

To determine the optimal diagnostic time, you need to understand the process of the test.

  1. After fertilization in female blood, the production of chorionic gonadotropin, a specific hormone of pregnant women, is activated. It is determined after a couple of days, when the chorionic villi are attached to the inner wall of the uterus.
  2. After a week, the amount of hCG reaches the level at which individual pharmacy test models can detect it.
  3. The average value of the substance that most diagnostic devices catch is formed by the two weeks that have passed since fertilization. At this stage, the results are most accurate. More sensitive pregnancy tests can detect changes several days earlier.

Types of funds with varying degrees of sensitivity

To date, several generations of pregnancy tests have already been developed. They vary from the simplest paper copies to digital models that determine the probability of conception without the slightest error.

Test strip

The most common and budget option is a test strip. It can be cloth, paper or plastic. Two strips are applied to the product. One appears after water, and the other contains antibodies that respond to chorionic gonadotropin.

A test with this product must be carried out in the morning, immediately after waking up. At this time of day, the concentration of hCG in the urine is maximum, and the result will be more accurate.

Depending on the duration of pregnancy, it is recommended to use the test strip no earlier than the second week. By this time, the amount of hormone in the pregnant body becomes optimal for diagnosis at home.

Tablet

An analog of a laboratory method for detecting pregnancy. It is much more convenient to use than regular test strips. The device does not fit in a container with urine. The control fluid is collected in a disposable pipette and introduced into the window of the test cartridge with the reagent. The required amount is 4 drops. The answer will appear in another window in the form of a certain number of bars or plus / minus icons. This model is considered the most accurate pregnancy test.

Digital

The principle of operation of this indicator is identical to conventional counterparts. It estimates the level of hCG in the urine by immersion in a vessel with a liquid. Only the result in this case can be seen on the computer screen by connecting a test device to it, or on the mini-board of the product itself.

In fact, a digital or electronic pregnancy test is a modern modification of conventional models. The accuracy of the readings here is very high - distortion of the result cannot occur.

Thanks to the perfect diagnostic system, you can apply the model 3 or even 4 days before the expected menstruation.

Certain types of electronic products may even show an approximate period in the presence of pregnancy. Also, some models are able to determine the level of other hormones and ovulation days, which in the case of a negative answer will help the system to calculate the time when the egg is ready to conceive in the next cycle.

When is the best time to conduct a study?

Using more accurate determinants, it is permissible to conduct a pregnancy test before delay. The results in this case will be equal to 99%. A simple strip test is effective only two weeks after conception and subject to the procedure in the morning.

To obtain 100% of the result, it is advisable to choose the same time of day for other models. Due to the high concentration of the hormone and the sensitivity of the product, the answer will be more reliable than in the evening.

Test Use Rules

The main condition is the above test time. However, there are other nuances that should be considered.

  • When buying a test, it is important to pay attention to the level of hCG, which is considered optimal for responding to a specific indicator model. Usually this value is indicated on the package. If the value is less than the standard 20 units, then the product is highly sensitive, which means it can track pregnancy even 3 to 5 days after conception. It is also worth checking the expiration date of the selected device.
  • On the eve of the day of rapid diagnosis, you should not drink plenty of fluids, take diuretics and eat foods that increase urination. These measures are necessary to prevent a decrease in hCG.
  • The urine used for testing should be freshly collected.
  • It is advisable to conduct a test on an empty stomach. This will help to get a more correct result.
  • Before the procedure, it is important to study the instructions from the manufacturer of the product, since each model has its own characteristics.
  • Values ​​on the product mini-panel usually appear within 5 minutes. Until this time, it should be kept in a horizontal position.
  • After 10 - 15 minutes, the result usually disappears. However, this does not mean that the test indicator can be reused.

It happens that a test conducted in the morning shows a positive result, and in the evening the answer is no. This discrepancy is especially characteristic if you do a pregnancy test in the early stages (up to 2 weeks). This is due to the small amount of hCG in the body of a woman, which accumulates in the morning and diverges towards the evening. A similar factor should also be considered.

What affects the accuracy of the result

As already noted, the main point determining the degree of reliability of the result is the time of day at which the diagnosis is carried out, and the gestational age.

Most tests are able to determine the fact of conception in the first days of menstruation delay.

The second factor is the sensitivity of the model to reagents applied to the control region. More advanced products provide more accurate answers.

Proper preparation for the procedure is important. Fatty foods should be excluded from the diet, reduce the amount of fluid and abstain from sexual contact before direct diagnosis. It is better to conduct a pregnancy test before eating, otherwise the result may be inaccurate.

Get the most accurate answer will help a clinical examination by a specialist and a blood test.

It is necessary to go through it, regardless of the data reflected by the express diagnostic device. With a negative result, a doctor’s examination will help to verify its reliability, and with a positive result, it will reveal the features of the course of pregnancy and determine the approximate term.

False positive and false negative

Not always a positive test result guarantees the presence of pregnancy. There is such a thing as a false positive answer.

Here are some factors that can cause this error:

  • Diseases of the internal organs associated with an increase in hCG in the blood.
  • The expiration date of the device.
  • Conducting postpartum testing, as well as abortion (miscarriage or abortion). In the body for the first time after these events, a large amount of chorionic gonadotropin remains. This circumstance provokes a false positive result.
  • The use of medicines with a high content of hCG in a two-week period before express diagnostics.

Another possible error may be a false negative test result.

It occurs for the following reasons:

  • Features of the female body - in a small percentage of women, the attachment of a fetal egg can occur only on the 17th day after conception.
  • Too early research when the level of hCG has not yet reached the optimum value.
  • Incorrect actions before the procedure (drunk a lot of fluid or diuretics taken on the eve of the test).
  • Poor or expired test copy.
  • Violation of the rules for diagnosis.
  • Insufficient tightness of the product packaging.

Sometimes the results are highly doubtful. This happens when the second indicator strip is not visible, but as if outlined from the inside. Most often this happens with cheap test strips, the production of which does not differ in special quality. The paper gets wet, and the control substance applied to it appears more noticeably.

There are situations when a strip of reagent appears, but its color is too pale. This means a low hormone level that is not recognized by reagent antibodies.

You should wait a few days and resort to a second procedure or purchase a more sensitive test model.

A pale strip can also indicate a violation of the rules for storing the product or improper use of the test itself. One way or another, in such situations, it will be appropriate to conduct a blood test for hCG or a second test, after a couple of days.

Another sad circumstance can provoke false data. This is a frozen or ectopic pregnancy. When these pathologies occur, the indicator at first also shows a positive result.But there is one difference - the hCG level does not increase, and after repeated testing the second strip becomes paler. Having found such a pattern, you need to urgently consult a doctor.

A pregnancy test, however accurate, is not the only diagnostic tool. It is necessary to undergo a full examination in order to dispel all doubts and eliminate the risk of pathological processes.

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