Pregnancy Test FAQ
Human chorionic gonadotropin, or HCG, is a hormone that a woman produces when she is pregnant. Pregnancy tests are designed to detect HCG in the urine. Here are answers to frequently asked questions about pregnancy tests.
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What Are the Different Types of Pregnancy Tests?
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There are two main types of pregnancy test. The first type includes an absorbent stick that the woman urinates on. For the second type of test, she must collect urine and apply it to a specified area of the test using a dropper.
How Do I Get the Result?
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After a woman has urinated on the applicator or dropped urine in the designated area, the pregnancy test will give a positive or negative result after an elapsed time. The result can be in the form of one line for negative and two lines for positive, or a "plus" sign for positive and "minus" sign for negative. Digital pregnancy tests will display the words "pregnant" or "not pregnant."
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How Acurate Are Pregnancy Tests?
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Pregnancy tests can be 99 percent accurate when used according to package instructions.
When Should I Take a Pregnancy Test?
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Pregnancy tests are most accurate on the first day of the missed period. Some tests can be taken earlier, two to five days before the missed period, but those results may only have about an 85 percent chance of accuracy.
Where Can I Buy a Pregnancy Test?
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Pregnancy tests are available at grocery or drug stores such as CVS, Walgreens and Wal-Mart. They also can be ordered online.
What Happens If I Get a Negative Result But Think I Am Pregnant?
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If a woman suspects she is pregnant and pregnancy tests are revealing a negative result, she can go to her doctor to have blood drawn to detect HCG in the bloodstream.
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