How to Use a Pregnancy Test Kit at Home

When someone realises they have missed their period, the immediate thought that crosses their mind is the possibility of being pregnant. However, panicking about the situation can only lead to stress. The most effective approach is to stay calm and take a pregnancy test to confirm or rule out pregnancy.

Opting for a home pregnancy test is a convenient and cost-effective way to determine pregnancy accurately.

If you have missed your period or are experiencing signs of pregnancy, here’s our step-by-step guide on using a pregnancy test kit at home correctly for accurate results.

But before that, let’s understand how pregnancy tests work.

How do Pregnancy Tests Work?

Pregnancy tests identify the presence of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG), a pregnancy hormone that is secreted by the placenta.

HCG is generally made by cells formed in the placenta (specifically by the syncytiotrophoblast cells of the placenta), which nourishes the fertilised egg attached to the uterine wall. Normally, the hCG levels double every 72 hours, and they reach their peak in the first three months of the pregnancy and decline after that. HCG levels can be detected by a blood test and a urine test.

You can detect the presence of hCG in your urine with the use of pregnancy test kits, and blood tests for detecting hCG in your blood stream. 

Pregnancy Detection Kit: How to Use it at Home

A home pregnancy test kit is a test that confirms pregnancy at home. It is an inexpensive test that uses your urine sample to detect the presence of pregnancy hormone (hCG).

A home pregnancy test kit generally consists of a testing kit, a urine dropper or a collection cup. The testing kit is made of a plastic casing or strip that contains the testing mechanism. The kit is designed to detect the presence of the hCG hormone in your urine. A urine dropper or collection cup, on the other hand, is a small plastic dropper or cup used to drop the urine into the testing kit.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use a home pregnancy test kit:

1. First, wash your hands thoroughly, and take the pregnancy test out of its foil wrapper.
2. Depending on the pregnancy test, you can either pee in a collection cup, use a urine dropper, or directly pee onto the test stick.
3. If you are peeing onto the stick, make sure that the absorbent tip is facing up and hold it in your urine stream for at least 10 seconds.
4. When using a collection cup or dropper, place a small amount of urine in the testing stick or you can also dip the absorbent end of the stick into the cup and hold it for 10 seconds or more.
5. After this, place the pregnancy testing stick on a flat and dry surface with the results window facing up. Wait for a few minutes for the results to appear. You can read your pregnancy detection kit’s ‘how to use’ or instruction sheet for more information.

Note that different pregnancy tests demonstrate pregnancy results in different ways. Therefore, it’s important to read your pregnancy detection kit’s ‘how to use’ or instruction sheet to interpret results correctly.

Most home pregnancy test kits have a line, symbol, or a sign, that when filled up with your urine sample, changes colour, no matter how faint, denoting a positive result. However, it’s important to remember that faint lines are sometimes due to evaporation, which occurs if the test is read outside the recommended time frame or if the test isn’t done properly.

Therefore, it’s important to read the instructions carefully and also go to your healthcare provider or nearby clinic for a pregnancy test and scan.

When Should You Take the Pregnancy Test?

The best time to take a pregnancy test is a week after your missed period. You can take the test earlier, but you may not be producing enough hCG for the test to detect pregnancy. Your body only produces hCG after the placenta is formed and fertilised egg implants itself in the lining of your uterus. Therefore, it’s important to wait for a few weeks before getting a pregnancy test.

READ: Missed Period. What Can it Mean?

How Accurate is a Home Pregnancy Test?

Most pregnancy test kits at home claim to have an accuracy rate of 99%. However, when taking a home pregnancy test, it’s important to keep these factors in mind:

1. Check the expiration date of your pregnancy test kit for accurate results.
2. Be mindful of your fluid intake before taking the test to avoid diluting hCG levels in your urine.
3. Follow your pregnancy detection kit’s ‘how to use’ or instruction sheet carefully for the best possible results.
4. If you're taking medications containing hCG, it may impact the accuracy of your test results.
5. Use your first-morning urine. Your hCG levels will be the most concentrated in the morning, which will render accurate results.

Can I Get a False Negative Pregnancy Test Result?

Yes, you can get a false negative pregnancy result despite being pregnant. This is generally referred to as a false negative, which occurs due to diluted urine, premature testing, or not allowing sufficient time for the results to appear. Therefore, it’s important to adhere to the instructions mentioned in your home pregnancy test kit for accurate results.

Can I Get a False Positive Pregnancy Test Result?

Yes, sometimes home pregnancy tests give false positive results. That is, it shows that you are pregnant when you are actually not. Although this doesn’t happen often, there’s still a possibility that you might get a false positive. This happens when you're taking a fertility drug that contains hCG.

Where Can I Get a Pregnancy Test?

Home pregnancy tests are available for purchase at various locations, including drugstores, grocery stores, and select convenience stores.

READ: Common tests during pregnancy

What Should I Do if the Pregnancy Test is Positive?

In case you get a positive result, it’s advisable to schedule an appointment with your healthcare professional for a blood test for pregnancy confirmation.