How To Use Pregnancy Test Strips At Home – Uses, Types And Price
How To Use Pregnancy Test Strips – The pregnancy test strip is the easiest and most reliable way to detect early pregnancy and is done as a confirmation when there are reliable signs and symptoms.
Pregnancy test strips with almost 99% accuracy are the ideal solution for all women who do not have a period a few days after intercourse.
The reliability of the results of these test strips depends on the correct choice of product and the correct method of testing. The following is a brief guide to testing methods and products available in the market.
How do pregnancy test strips work?
Pregnancy test strips are available without a prescription. They are designed to detect the presence of a hormone, also known as the pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).
The chemical, hCG, is released by tissues normally found in early embryos and levels rise rapidly in early pregnancy.
This is the secret of pregnancy test strips. They determine the level of hCG and confirm pregnancy within 10 days after intercourse.
Most strips show two panels, namely the test panel and the control panel. The detection of hCG is confirmed by the appearance of a line on the “test” panel. The lines may be pale pink in early pregnancy and lighten as the first trimester progresses.
HCG is produced and increases during the first trimester of pregnancy, but levels decrease as you approach the second trimester.
Fact: Pregnancy strip test results appear positive in men with prostate cancer.
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Pregnancy Test At Home
If you’ve missed your period and are experiencing other signs and symptoms of pregnancy such as breast tenderness, morning sickness, and fatigue, then it’s time for you to take a home pregnancy test to confirm your pregnancy early.
Test Execution Methods
- Purchase over-the-counter pregnancy strips at any medical or leading supermarket.
- Read the instructions carefully and make sure the strip is not expired or used before.
- Place the test strip in your urine stream or urine in a cup and dip the test strip into it.
- Wait for the specified time (usually 1-5 min)
- Read the test results and properly dispose of the used strip (if it is a disposable product).
If a test line appears, then the result is positive, congratulations! pregnant.
Tip: Take a pregnancy test early in the morning, as urine is more concentrated at this time, which gives the most accurate results.
How To Read Pregnancy Test Strips Results?
Possible pregnancy test strip results:
Positive Result: No matter how weak the line is, if it appears on the test panel, you may be pregnant.
False Positive Result: In rare cases, a test strip shows that you are pregnant, when in fact you are not. It is caused by the presence of blood or protein in the urine. Certain anticonvulsants, sleeping pills, or fertility drugs can also give false positive results.
Negative: If you have early signs of pregnancy but there is no pink line on the test strip, you may not be pregnant or the result is incorrect.
Possible reasons for a negative result, despite the presence of symptoms:
- Testing too early after missed period
- Using an Expired Band
- Taking certain medications, such as diuretics.
- Take a test after drinking a lot of liquid
- Errors in performing the test can also lead to negative results.
Repeat the test in a few days if the first signs of pregnancy persist. You may also choose to have a blood or urine test ordered by your doctor to eliminate confusion.
False Negative Results: The rate of false-negative pregnancy test strips is only about 1% and can be caused by certain medications or other errors.
The Best Pregnancy Test Strips In The Market
There are different types of easy-to-use homemade pregnancy strips available on the market, differing in terms of time to get results, display of results, price, or packaging. They can also be classified according to whether they are disposable or reusable.
Some easy-to-use home pregnancy test strips along with their specifications and prices in US dollars, Indian and Pakistani rupees are also listed here;
Accu-clear Pregnancy Test Strips
Specifications
- 99% accuracy
- 40 test strips per box
- sampling time 5 minutes
- Give the result 5 days before the estimated date of your period
- Line view but word view is available in the app
Price Per Pack
- $13 US
- 2880 PKR
- 1075 INR
Pros
- Including ovulation strips
- Cheaper
Cons
- Not accurate in the early pregnancy
- Difficult to read display line
- Belated Results
1st Response-Early Pregnancy Test Strips
Specifications
- Over 99% accuracy
- 3 tests per pack
- Test Time 3 min.
- Detect all the pregnancy hormones
- Line View, written view in app
Price Per Pack
- $12
- 2658 PKR
- 994 INR
Pros
- Easy to read results in app
- Simple line view
- Sensitive, even 12 centiliters of the sample
Cons
- Can show false negative results
Pregmate Test Strips
Specifications
- 99.8% accuracy
- Result time <5 min.
- 50 strips per pack
- Online screen
- Valid 5 days before expiration
Price Per Pack
- $15
- 3315 PKR
- 1230 INR
Pros
- Sensitivity at 25 mIU/ml
- Good Patient Reviews
- Fast results
- Bulk packaging
- Wide screen
Cons
- Linear display can be difficult to read
Clear Blue Rapid Detection With Smart Countdown
Specifications
- More than 99% accuracy
- Decision-making time – 1 min.
- 3 tests per pack
- word visualization
- Effect of results 5 days before expected period
Price Per Pack
- $15
- 2880 PKR
- 1075 INR
Pros
- Countdown when processing results
- Fast results
- Wider end
- Prevents more urine from entering the kit
Cons
- Expensive
- May give errors
Modern Fertility Pregnancy Test
Specifications
- 99% accuracy
- Online screen
- 6 days before the detection of menstruation
- Cycle tracker app
- 4 tests per pack
- Results in less than 5 minutes
Price Per Pack
- $13
- 2873 PKR
- 1066 INR
Pros
- Very sensitive – 10 mIU/ml
- Fast results
Cons
- Expensive
- String display can be hard to interpret
Natalist Pregnancy Test Strips
Specifications
- > 99% accuracy
- online screen
- Results 6 days before missed period
- 15 tests per pack
Price Per Pack
- $18
- 3978 PKR
- 1476 INR
Pros
- 100% neutral packing
- Used for family planning.
- Easy to use
Cons
- Difficult to read display line
- Not always show correct results.
- expensive
ClinicalGuard Pregnancy Test Strips
Specifications
- 99% accuracy
- linear strip
- Results in less than 5 minutes
- 20 packs
Price Per Pack
- $13
- 2873 PKR
- 1066 INR
Pros
- In individual packaging
- Affordable price
- Fast results
- Sensitivity-25 mU/ml
- Gives colored lines
Cons
- Unfriendly
- May give false negative results
Choose the pregnancy test strip that’s right for you
There are different types of home pregnancy test strips available on the market. Don’t follow the trends set by others, but define your type of group based on your personal needs. The determining factors are;
- Strips Type: digital or line display
- Speed of results: how quickly results appear
- Cost: Cheaper tests can be as accurate as more expensive ones. Fix your mistakes.
- Packaging: The number of strips per package can be a major deciding factor if you need multiple tests.
- Sensitivity: While test strips are 99% accurate, some may be more accurate depending on their sensitivity, so the choice is up to you.
Other Methods To Confirm Pregnancy
If you experience early signs and symptoms of pregnancy, the first step is to take a home pregnancy test. A positive pregnancy test strip indicates that you are pregnant.
If you are suspicious of the results, your doctor may suggest that you have a blood or urine test to confirm the pregnancy.
They are also administered by your gynecologist if a home pregnancy test is positive to rule out any personal or mechanical errors associated with the testing device.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When is the right time to take a pregnancy test?
Pregnancy test strips can be taken at any time of the day. However, it is recommended to test in the morning, as the urine is highly concentrated at this time. Avoid testing after drinking large amounts of fluids.
2. How can I confirm pregnancy at home?
Pregnancy test strips can be used to diagnose early pregnancy at home. They are immersed in urine to show the results.
3. How long can the test strip detect pregnancy?
Pregnancy test strips can detect pregnancy up to 5-6 days before your period starts. They provide reliable and accurate results from the first day of the missed period.
However, the color of the test line can vary depending on the concentration of hCG in the urine.
4. Are pregnancy test strips accurate?
Pregnancy test strips are almost 99% accurate. They quickly and reliably identify early pregnancy based on its symptoms. Avoid testing errors to get accurate results.