Today, in order to confirm or deny the probability of a successful conception, it is enough to visit the nearest pharmacy and buy a special pregnancy test there. Despite the fact that modern products are highly accurate, there are still cases when the results obtained are false. Whether the pregnancy test can be mistaken or the whole thing is a poorly performed procedure - we will find out further.

How does a pregnancy test work?

Evidence of a successful conception is not only the manifesting signs in the form of a lack of menstruation or a change in taste preferences, but also an increased level of hCG in the body of a future mother. The maximum concentration of the hormone is concentrated in the blood, however, part of the substance enters the urine, thereby allowing a woman to identify the fact of fertilization at home. The purchased test has a special absorbent reagent, which under the influence of a high level of hCG changes its color.

The procedure is quite simple and does not require special skills. It is enough to place the device in a container with urine, after which you should pay attention to the number of strips that appear. One line will appear regardless of whether you are pregnant or not, as it interacts with any fluid. The second strip acquires a red tint only if there is a high level of gonadotropin in the body. Thus, the two formed strips signal a successful conception.

Types of express tests

Often, women are lost at the sight of the presented variety of devices, giving preference in the end to the first product that comes across. Pregnancy tests differ not only in their cost, but also in ease of use, as well as in the quality of the reagent itself.

There are several types of rapid analyzes, each of which has its own distinctive features:

  1. Test strips. They were one of the first to appear on the market and are an obsolete generation of tests. The cost of such a device is quite budgetary, but there are certain inconveniences in the process of use. So, for example, a woman must first collect urine in a small container. In addition, improper adherence to the test can affect the accuracy of the analysis. In cheap pregnancy tests, paper material is used to make a reactive strip, which is not able to determine the minimum concentration of a substance in the early stages of pregnancy.
  2. Tablet tests. They are a special plastic case in which there are two small windows. Such a device is characterized by increased sensitivity, due to which it is possible to obtain the most accurate indicators of analysis. For convenience, the kit is equipped with a disposable pipette with which urine is applied. Just a few drops of biological material are enough to establish the presence of pregnancy. The first hole is for applying urine, and in the second window, analysis data appears.
  3. Inkjet tests. Innovative development of modern manufacturers. The high sensitivity of the device allows even a small amount of substance to be detected at an early stage. Inkjet tests are highly accurate, but the price of such an express analysis is much higher. An important plus is that you can perform the procedure without first collecting the material in a separate container, which greatly simplifies the diagnostic process itself. The reactive part of the device is placed under a stream of urine, and after the amount of time indicated in the instructions, you can see the analysis data.
  4. Electronic pregnancy test. It is one of the most accurate methods for home diagnostics. As a rule, such devices show correct data a few days before the expected delay of menstruation. However, to avoid inaccuracies, manufacturers recommend additional testing using tests from different manufacturers. Like a jet test, a digital device responds to an increased concentration of a substance in the urine, thereby determining the fact of a successful conception. An analysis result appears on a small screen a few minutes after urine enters the reactor. This can be either ordinary stripes or the words “pregnant” if the interesting position is confirmed, or “not pregnant” in case of unsuccessful conception.

Note! Any type of modern digital test is intended solely for one-time use. In addition, such a device is not a guarantee that pregnancy proceeds without any complications. Therefore, we recommend that you consult a gynecologist as soon as possible.

When can a pregnancy test be wrong?

The accuracy of the test is usually 96-99%, however, there is always a risk that the procedure will give the wrong result.

The indicators may be erroneous in the following cases:

  1. A test was used whose shelf life has come to an end, or the product has failed due to improper storage. To avoid marriage, get the test exclusively at the pharmacy, and do not forget to check the date of production of the goods and the integrity of the components.
  2. If there are errors during the analysis. There is a special insert in the package with the dough, where the manufacturer describes all the basic rules for use.
  3. The woman has constant malfunction of the menstrual cycle.Irregular menstruation is a sign of existing disorders of the endocrine system, as a result of which the quantitative indicator of hCG changes.

Causes of error with a positive and negative result

As noted earlier, the test strip responds to elevated levels of gonadotropin, the amount of which increases markedly immediately after fertilization of the egg. However, there are a number of points that also affect the quantitative indicator of a substance in the urine.

  1. Incorrect indicators can be triggered by existing violations of the reproductive system. So, the level of hCG increases significantly if there are cysts or any neoplasms in the pelvic organs. Also, a high indicator of the hormone may indicate the presence of oncology.
  2. The amount of gonadotropin increases sharply at the time of taking hormonal medications. This is another reason for a false positive pregnancy test.
  3. Abortions, miscarriages or surgery reduce the level of the substance, as a result of which the test may show incorrect data.
  4. The cause of a false negative is, as a rule, premature diagnosis. You should not expect an ultraprecise result from the test a few days after intercourse.
  5. Obsolete devices of the first and second generations do not respond to a small concentration of hCG equal to 20 mI / ml. That is why cheap tests very often show a false negative result for a future mother.
  6. The concentration of the hormone practically does not change if fertilization of the egg occurs outside the uterine cavity. In this case, the home procedure will also give an incorrect result.

How to conduct testing

So, the product for the home procedure was purchased, but you do not know how to use the device correctly. Do not forget that all the necessary information is indicated in the instruction sheet, because different tests may have their own nuances of use. It is recommended to perform the procedure in the morning immediately after sleep. It is at this time of day that the concentration of gonadotropin reaches its maximum.

In addition to the test itself, in the kit you will also find a small bag with silica gel. It is packaged to absorb unwanted moisture. Test strips and tablet tests are dipped in a container with liquid for several seconds.

It is enough to substitute jet or electronic products under the stream of urine with the part where the reagent is located (indicated by arrow). Next, the test is left in a horizontal position for 5-10 minutes until the reaction is complete. This time is arbitrary, since each manufacturer may have a different interaction time between the reagent and the material.

Remember that two red stripes do not guarantee a successful pregnancy. For a more accurate diagnosis, it is recommended that you contact your doctor for help, as well as undergo a series of relevant studies.

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