When we come across that little stick for the first time, we ask ourselves: okay, now how do I take a pregnancy test? You might say: Oh, taking a pregnancy test is the easiest thing in the world, but it’s not, dear friend! Did you know there is a little science to taking a pharmacy pregnancy test? Yes, although they are very reliable1, there is a correct way to take a pharmacy pregnancy test and a correct time for interpreting it. How you take the drugstore test also relates to whether the result is reliable or questionable. The way you use it impacts the result, no matter if you’re using one of the best brands on the market. There are brands and brands in the market. Some are better than others, but overall they are good quality. There are a few exceptions that are not very reliable brands, even though they’re well-known on the market. In these cases, even if the woman knows the correct way to take the pharmacy pregnancy test, she may still get false results. Mistakes can also happen, whether false negatives or false positives2.
Is there such a thing as a false positive?
False positives? Yes, it happens. That’s why it’s better to read to the end to protect yourself and learn how to do the pharmacy pregnancy test correctly. That way, you can avoid such a disappointment — which is certainly the worst for someone who’s trying to get pregnant. Just like I had with my experience with the grav test! So let’s go step by step on how to take a pregnancy test, whether it’s a pen-style or a strip.
How to Take a Pregnancy Test (Strips or Pen-style)
The first step to taking a pregnancy test is collecting your urine in a dry and clean plastic cup. It can be a small disposable cup, like the ones for coffee or juice, or a specimen container sold at pharmacies. Preferably, use the first urine of the day, especially if you have just a few days of late period. Up to 15 days late is considered a small delay. After this period, the pregnancy test can be done with any urine during the day. The results can be better if the woman doesn’t drink anything for 2 to 3 hours, to help concentrate the hCG in the pee. The next step is to have an adequate amount in the container, where you will dip the test. Knowing how to do a pharmacy pregnancy test is about respecting the limits described in the test’s instructions. For strip tests, never go above the maximum indicated line, which is clearly marked on the strip. For pen or cassette tests, never urinate directly onto the stick like you see in movies. The best way is to do it just like a strip test: dip it for 15 seconds in the cup with the urine.
Reading Time for Pregnancy Test Results
The reading time for pregnancy test results can also vary by brand. In general, you need to wait five minutes for an accurate result. Some brands may show the second faint line while still wet, and it may get darker as it dries. Other brands may show it clearly while wet and then it fades as it dries. What’s important to know is that after ten minutes of taking the pregnancy test, any change in the result should be considered inconclusive. It’s really only reliable up to ten minutes, okay? Blue dye pregnancy tests are more likely to show evaporation lines. Those are the lines that appear after the time is up and drive you crazy. So the ten-minute rule is even more important for these tests. Knowing whether you should leave the absorbent tip dipped in the urine during the test can be tricky. Some brands ask for just a few seconds to absorb the necessary sample, while others ask you to leave it in the whole waiting time so the antibody in the strip can react.
How Does a Pregnancy Test Work?
Urine contains hCG, a hormone produced only during pregnancy3. The test detects the presence of this hormone and depending on the amount, the result line may be darker or lighter. The appearance of the result line is another common question for women who are unsure about how to correctly take a pharmacy pregnancy test. Theoretically, if you have two lines on the pregnancy test, then the result is positive, regardless of the color of the second line. But in some cases, the line can be misleading, as it may indicate poor test quality and produce a false positive, which will devastate the woman. In these cases, the test marks the line where the positive result would be, even if there is no hCG in the woman’s system. Some tests recently have shown positive even when they shouldn’t. That’s the case with blue dye tests. One thing to make clear for women who are just starting to try to conceive is the timing for taking the pregnancy test. There are a few lucky ones who get a positive before their period is late, but these are the exceptions, not the rule. Remember that pregnancy only happens after the embryo implants in the uterus. After this, hCG starts being produced, making the pregnancy apparent. The exception is a high-sensitivity pregnancy test, such as the Famivita brand, which has 10mIU sensitivity. This allows it to detect hCG levels even before a missed period. You can find these tests here. Don’t let anxiety lead you. Avoid disappointment by doing the pregnancy test at the right time: at least five days late for women with regular cycles and 20 days after intercourse for women with irregular cycles. Good luck with your test, and if you have any questions, just leave them in the comments! See also: Pharmacy Pregnancy Test: So Now Is It Positive or Not?
