How Early Can Pregnancy Tests Work?

Pregnancy tests have come a long way. Once the only way to be tested was to go to a clinic, hospital or doctor. Now, there are tests on shelves at almost every store. Although the older home pregnancy tests could only be used after missing at least one period (or even a couple weeks after that), many of them now claim to have results the day of or the day after your missed period. The accuracy of any pregnancy test depends on the test, the person taking the test, as well as the person administering the test.

Function

Most home pregnancy tests are either strips or sticks, which are either dipped in a urine-filled cup or held under a stream of urine. These tests check for the presence of HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) in the urine. If the HCG is present, then this produces a positive result for pregnancy.

When

The earliest that testing should be done would be 9 days after conception. Though you are more likely to get an accurate reading if you wait at least 12 days. The best time to test is after your first missed period.

Types

Another factor in determining when to test for pregnancy is the type of test you use. There are a variety of home pregnancy tests on the market. So, reading the label will help determine when to use it and how accurate it will be.

More Accurate Testing

The most accurate and reliable test is the one your doctor will give you. It is rare that the pregnancy test that hospitals and doctors use are wrong because they test for the presence of HCG in your blood. If HCG is present in the blood, then you are definitely pregnant. HCG shows up earlier in the blood than in urine, so this makes the blood test more accurate.

Benefits

The earlier that a woman finds out she is pregnant, the sooner she can be under the care of a professional. The early stages of pregnancy are crucial to the growth, development and survival of the baby.