According to Brown University, most home pregnancy tests are between 99 and 100 percent accurate when used and read correctly. The first step toward reading home pregnancy test results correctly is performing the test according to the directions that come with the test. Pregnancy test procedures may vary between brands. In order to achieve an accurate result you also need to take the test once enough hCG (human chorionic gonadoptrophin) has been produced; a few brands of pregnancy test can detect elevated hCG levels before a missed period, but most must be used after the estimated start date of your absent period.
Step 1
Perform the home pregnancy test. The directions usually involve inserting the end of the tester into your urine stream for a brief period, or dipping the tester into a small cup of urine. Then leave the tester undisturbed on a flat surface.
Step 2
Set your timer to count down the required time window before reading your test. For the EPT brand, wait two minutes, for the Be Sure brand, wait five minutes, for the Fact Plus and Advance brands, wait until the "End of Test" window on the tester turns red.
Step 3
Examine the test results window on your pregnancy tester once the appropriate time period has elapsed. The symbols used to indicate pregnancy---or the absence of pregnancy---vary between brands. One side of the test results window may be marked "Pregnant"; if a line or symbol appears in this side of the window, the test has returned a positive result. Other ways of signaling a positive pregnancy test include: A horizontal line in the second test window (Be Sure), pink or purple color in the round results window (EPT) or a check mark (Precise).
Step 4
Discard the pregnancy test once you have read the results. Take a photo of the tester before discarding it, if necessary, for proof of the results. A positive test reading will usually be visible on the test for some time, but a negative pregnancy test will, often, eventually turn to a positive reading if given enough time; if you wish to show somebody a negative test you'll need to either perform a new test just before showing them or show them the photo as proof.
Tips and Warnings
- If you're having a hard time determining whether the pregnancy test reads as positive or negative, you can try taking another test immediately. You may get more definite results, however, if you wait a few days for hCG levels to increase---if you are in fact pregnant. The ambiguous result may have been because you tested too soon after conception. If you continue to have ambiguous results, re-read the test results to make sure you're performing the test correctly for that particular brand of pregnancy tests. Also, try purchasing a new test; the old ones may have been contaminated with moisture, which sometimes produces inaccurate readings. Remember that, while home pregnancy tests are generally very accurate, a clinician's blood test is the definitive, final answer for whether you have conceived or not and how far along you are.
Things You'll Need
- Home pregnancy test
- Timer or watch
