Early Detect Inc. is the manufacturer of many home diagnostic testing kits that help consumers identify a variety of medical conditions, including early pregnancy. Early Detect's home pregnancy test purports to give you results that are 99 percent accurate when used as early as the first day of a missed menstrual period.
How Pregnancy Tests Work
Home pregnancy tests such as Early Detect detect pregnancy using the same method, Mayo Clinic experts say. They determine if a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is present. HCG is released by the body soon after conception, in some women as early as 10 days, according to the National Institutes of Health. Home pregnancy tests such as those made by Early Detect do not determine the specific amount of hCG present, so it is not a quantitative measure of testing. It simply detects if hCG is present in the urine.
About Early Detect
The Early Detect home pregnancy test includes a wand with an absorbent tip. Inside the wand are test strips coated with protein that respond to the presence of hCG. The tip of the wand is held under the urine stream for around six seconds, after which it may be recapped and placed on a flat surface or held by the consumer with the tip side down. The display window on the wand has a control area and a test area; when urine saturates the test strip, a dark pink line will appear in the control area. If the test user is pregnant, a dark pink line will also appear in the test area of the wand. Two dark pink, perpendicular lines in the display window indicate positive pregnancy results. Results can be determined after five minutes, although the manufacturer notes that a positive result may be indicated after only a minute.
Manufacturer's Advice
Early Detect pregnancy test results may be skewed when directions are followed improperly or if the date stamp on the test indicates that it has expired. Additionally, the manufacturer notes that the consumption of a lot of fluids before taking the test can dilute the hCG in the urine and give inconclusive results. Drinking alcohol or taking oral contraceptives (or most medications) won't give false results; however, the manufacturer notes that those who take medications that contain hCG may get a false positive result.
Expert Advice
Although home pregnancy tests such as Early Detect are remarkably accurate, the Mayo Clinic indicates that some women develop only a small amount of hCG by the time the date of a missed period rolls around. Therefore, test results may be confusing. To get the most accurate results from home pregnancy testing, it's best to wait a week after a missed period. Also, the manufacturers of most pregnancy tests, including Early Detect, advise taking the test again a few days after the first to confirm results.
Other Early Detect Kits
In addition to home pregnancy testing kits, Early Detect manufacturers a variety of other home testing kits that can predict ovulation, gauge blood alcohol levels and the presence of certain drugs and measure blood glucose and cholesterol levels. Early Detect pregnancy tests can be purchased at most drugstores or online through Amazon.com and Drugstore.com. Products may also be purchased by calling Early Detect Inc. at 1 (949) 553-1127.
