How accurate are home pregnancy tests?
Home pregnancy tests can be quite accurate. But the accuracy really depends on many different circumstances.
- How You Use Them: Follow the directions provided with your home pregnancy test and be sure to check the expiration date on the box.
- When You Use Them: The amount of hCG pregnancy hormone in your urine at the time of the test, the better. And this level of hCG increases over time so the sooner you take the test after your missed period, the harder it may be to detect the level of pregnancy hormone. Waiting until at least one week after your missed period will increase accuracy and testing with your first morning’s urine may also boost accuracy.
- Who Uses Them: Every pregnant woman has a different level of the hCG pregnancy hormone present in their urine. This means that for some women, an accurate pregnancy test can be achieved on the first day of missed period while some women may need to wait up to a week before taking the test.
- The Brand Used: The sensitivity level of each pregnancy test is different. Some tests are better than other tests at spotting the level of hCG early in pregnancy.
A large majority of pregnancy tests claim to be up to 99% accurate on the day you miss your period. But there has been research that suggests that most home pregnancy tests do not consistently spot pregnancy this early. Futhermore, when they do, the results are often faint.
In a 2004 study, researchers tested the accuracy of 18 HPTs sold in retail stores. They found that only one brand consistently detected the low levels of hCG usually present on the first day of the missed period. This was the First Response, Early Result Pregnancy Test. The other tests missed up to 85% of pregnancies on the first day of the missed period. Most tests accurately confirmed pregnancies one week after the missed period.
