You don't want to leave any room for error when trying to determine something as important as whether you are pregnant, which is why it is so important to understand how to accurately read the results of a pregnancy test. Although the results may be displayed differently depending upon the brand of the pregnancy test, the process of reading pregnancy test results is simple and straightforward.
Step 1
Take the pregnancy test. To do so, urinate directly on the pregnancy testing stick or dip the stick into a cup of your urine.
Step 2
Wait the recommended amount of time. Trying to read the test too soon or too late can render the results inaccurate, so you must read the results within the time period specified by the manufacturer in the directions of the test.
Step 3
For most pregnancy tests, two lines will appear if you are pregnant, while only one line will appear if you are not. However, some tests may display a positive result as a plus sign or happy face, while digital pregnancy tests will actually display the words "pregnant" or "not pregnant."
Tips and Warnings
- To get the most accurate results, be sure to take the test after you miss a period, follow the directions of the pregnancy test you are using to the letter and take the test with your first morning urine, according to BabyCenter.com. Check the expiration date of the pregnancy test before using. Pregnancy tests that have expired may not give accurate results
- Extremely light lines called evaporation lines can appear as the urine begins to evaporate from the testing strip. Since this takes at least 10 minutes to occur, explains PeeOnAStick.com, this is obviously past the recommended time frame to read the results, and women should not mistake an evaporation line for a positive result. Some fertility medications may interfere with the test results, warns the Cleveland Clinic. Check the directions to see if the medication you are taking will interfere with the brand of pregnancy test you have selected. If you have any uncertainty about the accuracy of the pregnancy test you took at home, follow up with a blood pregnancy test at a doctor's office for a more conclusive result.
