The anxiety is high when you’re trying to get pregnant, isn’t it? Then, you pass by the pharmacy, decide to go in, and buy that pregnancy test just to put your mind at ease, around the 10th dpo (day post ovulation). After all, what harm could it do? I admit, I did this a few times, but whenever I did it before a missed period, I got disappointed. Even when I was pregnant, the test couldn’t detect hCG because the hormone level at that stage of pregnancy was too low.
The pharmacy pregnancy test on the right is mine and was the first one I took when I finally got a positive during my youngest daughter’s pregnancy. The positive pregnancy test on the left isn’t mine; it’s from a different brand and was sent by a reader.
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Hope Made Me Miss That It Was an Evaporation Line…
The pharmacy pregnancy test is very sensitive1. Most are still 25mui, but as I’ve mentioned in another article, there are tests with a sensitivity of 10mUI. The more sensitive ones used to be quite expensive, but now there are affordable options. The Famivita pregnancy test, for example, is a strip test with a 10mUI sensitivity. This means it can detect a pregnancy up to 5 days before your period is late.
Very Faint Positive Pregnancy Test
At the first opportunity, you rush to take the test, and the result? Either you’re definitely pregnant, or nothing appears, or the test shows something that could give you even more anxiety. Yes, have you heard of a pharmacy pregnancy test with a very faint line?
This happens due to the amount of hCG hormone in the body at that time and can make women even more anxious2. But there’s no other way, so off we go for another pharmacy test or even a blood test, which can also come back negative.
You might ask: “So, how can I avoid this situation?” Just wait a little longer. I know, for some anxious people that sounds almost impossible. But waiting is worth it, since it saves you the headache of holding a test with a very faint line.
Evaporation Line
Have you ever heard of an 3evaporation line? It’s a faint line at the place where the positive would appear. It can change color after some time has passed since the test was done, but pay close attention to the color: this evaporation line is grayish, not pink like a faint positive line. If the line is pink, it’s positive—no matter how faint! And let’s admit it, we always swear we saw a faint second line on the test, right? Cheers to all the anxious ones trying for a baby!
Readers’ Frequently Asked Questions!
Is a pharmacy pregnancy test reliable?
Yes, you can trust the pharmacy pregnancy test. The vast majority of tests on the market have very good sensitivity, usually 25mUI/ml. Highly sensitive tests are also used in labs to test the blood serum that is collected. So, they can indicate pregnancy just as urine tests do. Some pharmacy pregnancy tests are even more effective than the qualitative blood test itself, because they are 10mUI/ml!
To explain, the lower the mUI/ml number a test can detect, the higher its sensitivity. This number refers to the hCG level in the body, and more sensitive tests can indicate pregnancy even when the hormone is still low. So, by choosing a good brand with high sensitivity, such as 10mUI, you can get a positive up to 5 days before your period is due.
Pregnancy Test Cost and Benefit
Doing an at-home pregnancy test is very practical and convenient, but is it worth the cost? I think so. Some brands are great. The problem is when the number of tests you do ends up costing more than a quantitative beta test at the lab. It’s important to weigh the costs and benefits of each type of test. If you trust the brand, you can use pharmacy tests with confidence, as errors are extremely rare. But if you have doubts, a beta test done in a lab is the best option.
Is a Faint Line Positive or Not?
A faint line means there is some hCG in the woman’s body. It’s recommended to repeat the test in one week or monitor the hormone’s progression to see if levels are going up. This can happen, especially if the test was done incorrectly or if you just got unlucky and got a faulty test.
Following the instructions on the package is very important. And here’s a valuable tip: pee in a cup and then do the test. Don’t do it directly on the stick because it can miss. In general, if the faint line appeared within 10 minutes, it’s considered positive.
Pregnancy Test Brands: Which Are the Cheapest and Most Effective?
There are some very cheap brands. Confirme and Easy Test, for example, are two good and affordable brands! However, both should be taken after your period is late. There are women who get lucky and can detect HCG even before a missed period, but that’s not the rule, just the exception. Prefer tests with 10mUI sensitivity, and regarding prices, they’re usually very accessible, nothing expensive compared to my time of trying.
To detect a pregnancy before your period is late, ideally the test should have 10mUI sensitivity. The available high-sensitivity options are Famivita, Baby Detect, and Confirme. Still, I advise taking Baby Detect only after the first day of a missed period, and Confirme one day before. Famivita is amazing and can be used up to 5 days before your period is due. The Famivita test has the best price and the best cost-benefit ratio.
The only pregnancy test brand I don’t trust is Gravtest. It has already given me several false positives and also a false negative.
As for Clear Blue, it used to be reliable until the well-known evaporation lines became a routine issue. The test shouldn’t be read after 10 minutes because it tends to show a second line even when the woman isn’t pregnant. This happens because of the type of dye and strip used by the manufacturer. Generally, if it’s read within 10 minutes, it’s fairly reliable. The digital version is better and actually tells you if you’re pregnant or not, very simple.
Check out our test gallery and if you have a photo, you can send it to [email protected] and I’ll add it there to help even more women who want to get pregnant.
Can You Get a False Positive on a Pharmacy Test?
Even though most labs say you can’t, it is possible. The reasons may vary, such as the quality of materials used to manufacture the test. It could also be something related to the woman’s body, like a recent miscarriage, or taking medication that contains HCG, cases of molar pregnancy, or benign tumors caused by a non-viable pregnancy. That’s why it’s always recommended to confirm a positive result with another test or a blood exam.
