The home pregnancy test, that is, the one you can buy at pharmacies, is nowadays a highly effective way to confirm whether a woman is really pregnant. Although some medical tests are necessary for absolute confirmation, it can already indicate what is probably happening with your body. But that’s where doubts arise, as many women do not know exactly how it works, nor what an evaporation line on a pregnancy test is. And that’s why today’s article will cover this subject, showing how a woman should interpret the results and start preparing, or not, for a new phase in her life.
How Does a Pregnancy Test Work?
The most common pregnancy tests are pharmacy tests1, meaning, those you can buy and do yourself at home without a doctor’s order. Blood tests can indicate pregnancy with a lot of precision, especially because a doctor will monitor the whole process, but many women normally take this test after already having positive results on pharmacy tests, as a way of confirming the pregnancy. Pregnancy tests detect the levels of the hormone beta-HCG in the woman’s urine. If this hormone is not detected, the test will be negative; otherwise, the result will be positive. Each brand and type of test works differently, so read the instructions carefully before using them.
Are Pharmacy Pregnancy Tests Reliable?
Pharmacy pregnancy tests have an accuracy rate of between 95% and 99%, which is quite high. Therefore, we can state that these tests are indeed reliable. But it is important to remember that there are some factors that can make this effectiveness decrease. For instance, the test cannot be taken immediately after suspicion of fertilization. This is because the body will not yet be producing enough HCG, which may lead to an incorrect result. It is recommended to take the test about 5 days after the missed period. Unless the tests are more sensitive, like the Famivita pregnancy tests, which can detect the HCG hormone up to 2 days before the missed period. It’s important to note that the first urine of the morning may contain a higher amount of the beta-HCG hormone and is therefore the most recommended for the test. Also, always pay attention to the expiration date of the test, as this can also interfere with its effectiveness.
What is an Evaporation Line on a Pregnancy Test?
When it comes to this type of test, one of the main questions that arises is what the evaporation line on a pregnancy test is. It is the line that appears when the urine evaporates from the test, showing a false positive result. When it appears within an hour, the chances of the woman being pregnant are high. However, the line can sometimes appear a little later, which ends up generating a lot of doubt. On one hand, there’s the possibility that the woman is pregnant since the test was positive, but on the other, the result came much later than expected, so it is not as reliable. There are also cases where the evaporation line appears very faint, creating even more uncertainty. In this situation, when there is a faint or very late evaporation line, the best thing to do is seek a doctor and take a blood test to be sure of the result or repeat a new pharmacy pregnancy test. In cases of many doubts, nothing is better than the word of a specialist and more reliable results to be able to prepare for the future. 
False Result on Pregnancy Test
As we mentioned earlier, there are some factors that may end up generating a false result on a pregnancy test2. The main error that happens is called a “false positive”, which leaves many women thinking they are pregnant when they are not. However, false negatives also exist, which happen mostly when the test is taken too early3. Some of the main factors that cause these errors are:
- Test past its expiration date
- Chemical pregnancy, when the beta-HCG hormone is produced due to some bodily disorder
- Presence of tumors releasing hormones such as HCG, for example, in the pituitary gland
- Use of medications such as infertility treatment drugs
- Test performed incorrectly
It is important to emphasize here that the effectiveness of pregnancy tests is very high and these false results are rare cases to occur. However, they do exist and it’s necessary to talk about them so you are always aware of what can happen when you take a pregnancy test. The evaporation line on a pregnancy test serves to confirm the result, but there are also cases where it can end up being misleading and bring a different result, whether it is a false positive or a false negative. In any case, using them will do no harm and can alert you to a new phase in your life. The pregnancy test is definitely the fastest way for you to find out if you’re pregnant or not. And although it is not 100% reliable and there are occasions of false results, it is still important for a woman to stay alert and seek a doctor as soon as possible, to know how to proceed. Pregnancy is a unique moment in a woman’s life and needs to be cherished from this first sign, as it is a landmark in life and a change forever in the way she sees her body, her emotions, her mindset, and her existence. Also read: Vinegar Pregnancy Test, Does it Work?
