Pregnancy test - meaning and definition
Alsohome pregnancy testhCG testpregnancy testsHPTpreg test
Not yet reviewed by a clinician. This health entry was written from the public-health sources listed below and is general information only. It is not medical advice.
Definition
A pregnancy test detects the hormone hCG, which the body starts making after a fertilised egg implants in the uterus, in urine or blood.
At a glance
- A pregnancy test detects the hormone hCG in urine or blood.
- hCG is made after a fertilised egg implants in the uterus.
- Home urine tests are accurate when used as directed, typically from the first day of a missed period.
- Testing too early can give a false negative.
- Clinic blood tests can detect pregnancy slightly earlier.
In detail
Home urine tests are widely available and accurate when used as directed, typically from the first day of a missed period or about three weeks after unprotected sex. Testing too early can give a false negative, so repeating the test a few days later is often advised.
Blood tests done by a clinic can detect pregnancy slightly earlier and measure hormone levels. Anyone with a positive result, or with pain or unusual bleeding, can contact a clinician or sexual health service to talk through their options.
In a sentence
- My period was late, so I picked up a pregnancy test on the way home.
- The nurse suggested repeating the pregnancy test in a few days.
Not to be confused with
- STI testing
A pregnancy test does not detect sexually transmitted infections, which need separate testing.
Common questions
When is the best time to take a pregnancy test?
Home urine tests are typically accurate from the first day of a missed period or about three weeks after unprotected sex. Testing too early can give a false negative, so repeating the test a few days later is often advised.
What should I do after a positive test?
Anyone with a positive result, or with pain or unusual bleeding, can contact a clinician or sexual health service to talk through their options.
Related terms
Sources
- NHSDoing a pregnancy test
- MedlinePlusPregnancy test