Purchasing a pregnancy test can be a daunting task for a first-time user. Pregnancy tests work by detecting a hormone produced by the body called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), as soon as the embryo implants in the uterus. As early as ten days after conception, this hormone is present in both the blood and urine. There are many tests available, and with a little research, you can feel confident that the test you use is giving you the correct answer.
Blood Test
Blood tests can detect hCG in the blood as soon as eight days after conception, making them the earliest and most accurate test. The blood can be tested either for a qualitative measurement, which simply detects the presence of the hCG hormone, or quantitative measurement, which assesses the amount of the hormone in the blood. The hCG levels double about every 48 hours; therefore the quantitative measurement can determine how the pregnancy is progressing. There are some disadvantages to the blood test. It must be ordered by a doctor and the blood must be evaluated by a lab; therefore the results take a day or two.
First Response Early Result
First Response Early Result is possibly the most sensitive standard home pregnancy test on the market, according to Consumer Reports. This test is able to detect the hCG levels in urine even before a woman misses her menstrual period 95% of the time, at levels lower than nearly any other test. This test also produces results that are easy to read, avoiding the confusion other tests may cause. One downside to the early result is that the risk of miscarriage is 25% for all pregnancies, and many times they occur before a woman would have missed her period. This can cause anxiety in a woman who believes she is pregnant, only to go on to have her menstrual period.
Clearblue Easy
The tip of the stick turns pink when the Clearblue Easy test is used properly. This is helpful to the woman who may wonder if she has urinated long enough on the stick. The results are easy to read and show a plus sign if you're pregnant and a minus sign if you are not. Remember, no matter how faint the line, if you see a slight plus sign after the two-minute wait, you are pregnant.
Fact Plus
Fact Plus was previously known as one of the worst tests on the market, as it required significantly higher hCG levels that most other tests. Fact Plus responded to these complaints by revising their product, which now produces an answer at hormone levels equivalent to most other tests, 25 mlU of hCG. The new test puts Fact Plus on par with the early accuracy of many other tests on the market.
CVS Digital Pregnancy Test
Although this test is a two-step test, requiring the user to place the test stick into the test holder before use, it is as sensitive as name-brand digital tests for less money.
Clearblue Easy Digital
Clearblue Easy's website states that its digital test is the most accurate available. In just three minutes, you will see the words "pregnant" or "not pregnant," leaving no room for interpretation. To any user questioning the exact technique required in taking this test, Clearblue Easy's website offers a visual demonstration so that you know you've done the test correctly.
Dollar Store
Testing can become an obsession when a woman is waiting to find out if she is pregnant or not. The cost of at-home tests can become a concern when the desire to test frequently leads to multiple trips to the drugstore. The Dollar Store brand of tests is a good option for these and all women. With just 20 mlU of hCG in a woman's urine, the Dollar Store test can give an accurate result, according to FertilityPlus.org.
Equate
Equate, Walmart's generic brand name, produces accurate results at one of the lowest hCG level. You can trust that by selecting this store-brand product, you will receive a precise answer. However, be sure to read the test in the time frame specified in the instructions, as this test is known to produce an evaporation line as it sits, which could be interpreted as a false positive.
Target
A little-known fact is that the same manufacturer produces the Target brand of pregnancy tests and Fact Plus. By selecting a generic brand, you not only save money but also get the same result that you would with the pricier brand. The Target brand pregnancy test is said to provide an accurate result at just 25 mlU of hCG.
First Response Gold
Introduced in mid-2008, the First Response Gold test kit is advertised to give a digital "yes or no" readout up to five days before a woman misses her menstrual period. One benefit to this test is the "test is working" readout, which gives the woman confidence that she will get her answer. One disadvantage to this test is its cost, which is significantly higher than most standard at-home tests.
