Are home pregnancy tests really accurate?

Melissa - posted on 09/20/2011

they are 99.9% accurate because they cannot test everyone to make sure there isn't a fault in the test and then there is the fact about the pregnancy hormone. It has to be at a certain level to read as positive, if it's not at that level it won't read positive, only bloodwork would read it as positive! so yes they for the most part can be accurate, just depends on what point of the pregnancy you are at!

Kimberly - posted on 12/01/2009

Well I had tried for 20 yrs to have a child my monthly time was not dependable for me but I would do a test with neg. results. Then finally in Feb 1999 (age 38) I had had been sick, no monthly (which had been consistant) so I took the home test. To my supprise and I must of been white as a ghost it was POSSITIVE, shook my head a few times and looked again. Left the bathroom and my aunt asked what was wrong, I answer this thing says I am pregnant (now understand after trying for so many years and thought I was had a false rpt from a doctor in my 20's and my monthly to being able to be relied upon, I had my doubts) I was afraid to believe and be disappointed (but inside I was jumping with joy) so I went to family planning for their test and right away it showed positive. The gal said boy that was fast. Now I got more excited, but still had doubts. Made a doctor appoint had a test (+), explained my doubts, and nurse could not find a beat, but the Dr. bet me $5.00 he could find one. Yep he won. So at 39 yrs. old I had my special package/gift from God on 10/99 my little angel girl was born.

Iysha - posted on 11/30/2009

Congratulations on your pregnancy =] sorry to hear about the miscarriage risk, hope everything goes well.

Jean - posted on 11/30/2009

29 years ago my gyno gave me a blood test...negative. i took a home pregnancy test and it came up positive....yes, they work!

Shalom - posted on 11/30/2009

Good luck!!!!

Paola - posted on 11/30/2009

Hi moms!
thank you soooo much for taking time to answer, Well on Saturday i had a little bit of blood, but it was just once, so i decided to take a test again on Sunday morning and it was NEGATIVE again. Sunday night i was bleeding a little bit again, and also today in the afternoon and night but more than yesterday ...so i went to the doctor today and I AM PREGNANT and the reason that i am bleeding it is because i have a big risk of miscarriage and as the doctor said there is nothing i can do about it, just rest, wait and see as it is too early to do something about it.
Well thanks a lot to all the moms for the kind words!!

Dlei - posted on 11/29/2009

Paolo, there are some woman that the tests come back as negative and they are pregnant. The best way to know for sure is to see your doctor. I used the home tests with all four of my boys and they were accurate. I too had cramps with my pregnancies and with my 1st I also had my cycle for the 1st 3 months. So anything is possible, but I would trust the test. Although I did take a test on a Saturday during the day and it was negative, so I went to the doctor on that Monday for the pill, I took their test and I was pregnant. So see what your doctor says. Good luck!

Sharon - posted on 11/29/2009

Oh man. Try the tests when you're a month late, then claim they aren't accurate.



I hate those tests that claim to be accurate if you're so much as a day late. Only if you are an olympic hopeful for hormone production.

Kandi - posted on 11/29/2009

Hi Paola,
I can never rely on home pregnancy tests. I always have to have a blood syrum done.

Iysha - posted on 11/28/2009

I got a cheap pregnancy test...only $1. And that test came out positive when I was only about 3 weeks along. And sure enough, at my doctor's apointment, I was pregnant. I think they are pretty accurate. If you are pregnant, your body might have not released as much of that one chemical (forgot what it is called) that the test detects to determine pregnancy.

Holly - posted on 11/28/2009

The pregnancy tests are very accurate, but your hCG hormone levels could be low, or the test might not have ran properly. If you took the tests before or when you were supposed to start your cycle, try it again. Also, the tests that are at hospitals and doctors' offices are more sensitive than OTC ones (especially if they run a blood sample), so you might want to get your doc to run one.Never trust a result if the control line or symbol does not show up.

Vicki - posted on 11/28/2009

I have never gotten a negative response on a pregnancy test when I was pregnant. I think they are very accurate. Even when I had an ectopic pregnancy, it said I was pregnant.

Jenny - posted on 11/28/2009

I would wait another couple of days and try again. I had really good luck with Clearblue easy digital. It SPELLS IT right out so there's no chance of misinterpreting pink or blue lines...good luck!

Brittany - posted on 11/27/2009

yes pregnancy tests can inaccurate. There are hormones in your body that make a pregnancy test read...If you don't have that specific level of hormones it may not work for you at all. I worked with a girl who had to only get blood tests because a regular pregnancy test wouldn't register for her until she was 6 months along!

Caitlin - posted on 11/27/2009

I took about 6 home prenancy test over the span of a couple months and they all came back negative. Went to the doctor and got blood work done and turns out I was 11 weeks pregnant. Only one day left in my first trimester. I had taken a test 1 week before that. I swear they don't work on me. I would get a blood test!

Sara - posted on 11/27/2009

A home pregnancy test (as long as it is not expired), can give a false negative, but not a false positive. The false negative can be triggered by things like medicines (oral or vaginally topical), time of day (not using the first urine of the day), etc. wait a bit and try again. Periods can be late from stress, lack of sleep and other things as well. You can also trick your body into acting like it is pregnant, so try not to think about it too much - I know, easier said than done. If all else fails, go see your doctor!

Aisa - posted on 11/27/2009

some people will show a negative reading so its best to get a blood test, i had a friends who didn't have her period but a home test came negative when she did finally get a blood test she was 20 weeks preg

Sandra - posted on 11/27/2009

that a funny one because a negative might mean too early, but a positive test is definite, the best thing thing to do is to go to a clinic and get a pregnancy test they can usually tell you the same day. or wait another week and do another home pregnancy test.

Julie - posted on 11/26/2009

Well my best friends brother is a doctor and he said that they use the home style pregnancy tests at his office and that they are 99% accurate if done correctly. Like one time a peed too long on the stick and flooded it and had to buy another test. The manufacturer told me the best way to use the test is to pee in a cup first and then put th e end of the stick in just 10 seconds and no longer. Also don't wait longer than it says to read it because not all tests keep the answer permanently. There was a time when I stopped having periods and 2 home pregnancy tests were negative so I went to the doctor and there test was negative as well. Upon further investigation I had stopped ovulating most likely because of a 30 lb. weight gain. Stress or a change in weight can cause you to not get your period. Also pain could be a sign of a problem, such as an ectoptic pregnancy which doesn't always give a positive result on a pregnancy test and is very dangerous. So if you've done 2 tests and they are still negative, I would wait another week and if you still don't have your period I would just go in and have a pregnancy blood test done at your local hospital. A lot of times they will do them for free or very low cost. Of course if your pain gets worse or isn't going away you should probably just make an appointment with your doctor to make sure there is nothing wrong. Also when you do the home pregnancy test it's best to do the test with the first morning urine when the level of pregnancy hormone is the greatest. Then you'll get the most accurate result. Also don't drink anything beforehand because you can dilute the urine which makes it harder also to get an accurate result. Anyway hope this information helps you. I've had 8 pregnancies so I've had a lot of experience with home pregnancy tests.

Sandra - posted on 11/26/2009

They are pretty accurate but you should follow-up with your doctor too.

Danielle - posted on 11/26/2009

The funny thing about pregnancy tests are, if it's positive it's right, if it's negative you never know. Every woman is different& every pregnancy is different. It depends on how much & how long it takes to show up in your body. If your not sure, just go to the doctor. They can put your mind to ease.

Jodi - posted on 11/26/2009

Well, when my sister was 5 months pregnant, her friend thought she might be pregnant but her tests kept coming back negative so she wanted my sister to take one of the same brand to see if they were legit (it was a generic). My sisters test came back negative at 5 months pregnant! Although, it turned out her friend was actually NOT pregnant. Anyways, I was once 3 weeks late and convinced I was pregnant, but wasn't. So, who knows...I would talk to your doc so that you get the care your potential baby needs right away. Good luck!

Andrea - posted on 11/26/2009

I had to take 5 neg and then 1 pos. with my son and with my daughter i had to take 6 neg and then got the 1 pos.. the blood test didn't even pick it up.. I was 11 1/2 weeks with my son when we got the Positive test.. and i was 8 1/2 week with my daughter when it came up Positive.. I had the cramps with both of mine to also my hubby says i was eating thing i would not touch b4 hand.. So yes i did have bad experience with home test too... But i just waited it out and took another one.. i found that the cheap ones (dollar store brand) worked better then the other ones.. hope this is helpful... Best Wishes and take care

Doree - posted on 11/26/2009

I would get a blood test done at your drs office. Good Luck!

Stacy - posted on 11/26/2009

When are you taking the test? First thing in the morning is more accurate. Maybe give it a couple more weeks, if you don't start, go see your doc..

Donna - posted on 11/26/2009

I used one with my youngest and it showed I was pregnant which was correct. I have heard that you can get a negative resultl and actually be pregnant.

Jodie - posted on 11/26/2009

hi, yes with both of my girls the tests came back negative for a few trys. Sometimes your hormone levels dont peak until a bit later. Just see how it goes. If you havent got your peiod after another week go to the docot for a blood test.

Kathy - posted on 11/26/2009

Those were not accurate for me. My doctor told me that some women produce large amounts of hormones and it "overwhelms" the test. I was pregnant while the test said negative.

Rebecca - posted on 11/26/2009

I had horriable cramps with my son and i thought it was my endo. kicking in before my period as always but i took a test incase as we were tryiong to 6 months to get pregnant adn it was negative so i took my morhpine and put a hot water bottle on and 2 night later the samething ahpepedn...i took another test at 3am the 3rd night and it was positive. After 3 nights of morphine and hot water bottles i found out i was pregnant:( My son turned out to be fine and he is now 2yrs old. We just had our second child in July and she too is healthy and we never had any doubt with her. However, in October i had to take a test...it was positive 2 days later we wanted to make sire adn it was negative,2 days later again negative, 2 days later again negative...the next morning i started my period. My Dr did i pee test this month to make sure i wasn't and turns out i'm not. If you are getting abnormal periods for yuo and still are getting a negative get your Dr to order blood work to check for pregnancy and hormonal imbalance. Thats was my problem.

Good luck!

Ebony - posted on 11/26/2009

i did home pregnancy test with both my girls i think they are quite accurate although with my second child i took the test and it was negative but i took the test a week later and it was positive.

Diana - posted on 11/26/2009

This just happened to one of my friends. She was almost a month late and was having the cramps as well. She had taken several tests over the months but all came out negative. She just figured it was stress. She took one again a few days ago and came out positive. Your hormone levels might not be high enough yet for the tests to register yet. Try having your blood drawn at the hospital.

Brandi - posted on 11/26/2009

They are most accurate when they say positive. Occasionally, they can read a false negative (which of course means you're pregnant). I would call your OB and tell them you believe you are pregnant, but that 2 home tests have come back neg., could you please be scheduled for a blood test. Also, keep in mind that human error can play a HUGE role in reading a negative test. Even the faintest line (unless you are using the digital read version) will mean you are pregnant, and many women misread it as not pregnant as the line is very hard to see or they believe it must be much darker to be read as positive. I would defintely call the OB and have a more accurate test done. If it had said you WERE pregnant, I would say yup congrats, but since you read it as neg, there is a high likelihood that it could be a false negative. Good luck.

Elita - posted on 11/26/2009

Most of the tests today are accurate but check with your dr

Paola - posted on 11/26/2009

Thank you so much Moms!
Yes, i just can not believe i am not pregnant as i have not been taking any contraceptives for many many years, as my doctor do not allowed me to take them.
So thank you so much to all of you, all of you were a big help!! it feels good to think that maybe i can be pregnant!
i'll let you know what the Doc. said !

Julia - posted on 11/26/2009

they are not all corect, some can be inconclusive and some can say neg. because you dont have enough hormones for it to detect that your are yet. I took 5 test in a 4 month period when i was pregnent, the tests kept saying negative. but i was.

Renae - posted on 11/26/2009

Yes these days they are very accurate. Just as accurate as the ones the doctors use. Kendra is right, modern tests are simply looking for a hormone which is only present if you are pregnant. Therefore it is impossible to get a false positive. A positive is a positive. However, depending on where you are in your cycle you can get a false negative, in that there wasn't enough of the hormone to show up.



Going on a normal cycle, 7 days after your period was due means you ovulated about 3 weeks ago, and I thought the hormone should be present 3 weeks after fertilisation. The cramps you had would also match up with the time of implantation. Hmmm... that is strange, maybe your not pregnant, but it does sound like it doesn't it? Definately time for a doctors appointment! :)

Shalom - posted on 11/26/2009

My hubby asked that too. I showed him the box... it said 99.9% accurate! Hehehe.



The only thing is, most tests will say negative until your hormone levels start to come up, and that can take 3 weeks or more. I'd just give it a little more time and try again.



GOOD LUCK!!!

Kendra - posted on 11/26/2009

sorry its meant to says false negatives happen when the pregnancy hormone is to early or low to detect

Kendra - posted on 11/26/2009

well i had taken 4 pregnancy test when i thought i was pregnant and they came back negative so i went to my doctor who confirmed i was actually pregnant he also informed me that you can have false negative but not a false positive. the reason for a false positive is through your hormone not being high enough to detect