Most questions about pregnancy tests are about the results. Interpreting them isn’t always so easy; but with this little help, it can be much easier to understand what the report means. When we do a blood or urine test at home, we can feel unsure about those numbers or the test line, since not everyone knows how to interpret what the pregnancy test result means1.
Are there two lines, but one is too faint? What do those numbers in my beta HCG result mean? Let’s get to the explanations!
Pharmacy Tests
I’ll start with the pharmacy test. These tests are getting more and more efficient at detecting the HCG hormone. Some of them promise up to 99% accuracy in cases where there is a missed period. We can say that a test with two lines is indeed positive, no matter the shade of color. However, some results cause more doubt than certainty2.
The pregnancy test is capable of reacting to the amount of HCG present in the urine. It should be done by dipping the absorbent tip into the urine up to the max mark. Then, just wait the recommended time on each brand’s instructions. Usually, the result appears in three to five minutes. Two lines is positive, regardless of the color intensity of the second line (the test line).
This line can be lighter because of the amount of HCG present in the urine and also the sensitivity of each test. Some tests can detect from 25mUI of HCG in a woman’s urine. Others, from 10mUI. This difference may seem small, but for an early pregnancy, it’s quite a significant advance. /p>
When the line is much fainter than the control line, it may indicate that the amount is still low and that HCG production has just started. It is advised to repeat the test in 48 hours, which is a reasonable amount of time for the hormone to rise and become more noticeable to the test’s reagents.
The result of a pharmacy pregnancy test should be interpreted as positive if there are two lines, and negative if there is only one line, the control line. If only the test line or no line appears, the test is invalid.
Smudges in the Test Result
Another situation for those using pharmacy tests is a smudged test. For those who have never taken a pregnancy test from a pharmacy, imagine a foggy window. This smudge from the dye used to mark the result can be confusing if it spreads completely over the test area. Therefore, even if a faint line appears in that spot, you should disregard it and do it again with a new strip. These smudges can happen for various reasons, but the main one is too little or too much urine on the strip.
Evaporation Line
I couldn’t talk about pregnancy tests without mentioning evaporation lines. They can appear on a pharmacy test and complicate things. What was negative at first can turn into a positive, and incorrectly interpreting the pregnancy test result can have serious consequences.
The ideal is to read the result in no more than 10 minutes! After this period, there is a high risk of a false positive from an evaporation line or, in tests with blue dye like Clear Blue for example.
How to Interpret Beta HCG Pregnancy Test Results?
Beta is an even bigger question for many women. The issue is exactly with the blood pregnancy test result, or rather, the quantitative beta HCG, the one that shows the exact amount of hormone present in a woman’s blood. Some labs just show the number and minimal reference alongside. However, due to lack of experience, insecurity, or not believing what they see, the beta pregnancy test result is one of the most common questions we receive here at Famivita.
We can say that to be sure what’s written on the report, we must take into account the lab’s reference3. That way, the pregnancy result may become easier to read. Let’s say the lab considers a minimum of 25mUI of HCG in blood as positive and the test shows 1.2 mUI. In that case, this woman is not pregnant. The reference for most labs is 25 or 50 mUI. Next, here are some results used as examples. Follow the reasoning:
Example Results
Result: 124.00mUi > Positive because it is above the reference value, that is, 25 to 50 mUI. Result: 2.4mUI > Negative, any sample below 25 in this case is negative for pregnancy. Result: > 25mUI > Positive, since the sign in front of the number shows the sample is more than 25mUI. Result: < 25mUI > Negative, as it shows the amount of hormone is below 25mUI. Result: 10mUI > Indeterminate, the test contains some HCG, but not enough yet to confirm a positive.
Any pregnancy test result above 25 or 50 is certainly positive. However, it is recommended to repeat it in a week to see the test’s progression (for quantitative beta tests). Ideally, the test value should almost double within 48 hours. To track this progression, it’s advised to repeat at that time interval.
Indeterminate Result
Indeterminate tests are common. They happen because the pregnancy is recent. Usually, these tests will progress. However, if they stay the same within 10 days, it’s likely a chemical pregnancy or even a very early miscarriage.
It’s important to repeat the blood test at the same laboratory. If that’s not possible, the comparison parameter will be different and it’s not recommended to take the old test into account. So, repeat it at the same place to avoid misunderstandings or negative surprises.
Beta rises faster for some women than for others, but everyone should see clear results within a week. Stay calm and don’t despair. Repeat the test, talk to your doctor, and of course, don’t go for early ultrasounds. Wait for your doctor’s recommendation before doing one, okay?
See also: What Is HCG Hormone
