Is a Pregnancy Test Kit Accurate in Detecting Pregnancy?

During the period of pregnancy preparation, if menstrual delays occur, women can use pregnancy test sticks for detection. When using the pregnancy test stick, attention should be paid to timing. It can be used after a 7-day delay in menstruation. Additionally, it is recommended to use morning urine as this will increase the accuracy of the test. Compared to HCG blood tests, the accuracy of pregnancy test sticks is slightly lower, but generally speaking, they are still relatively accurate. Let's explore this further.

1. Accuracy of Pregnancy Test Sticks

Pregnancy test sticks are not 100% accurate, but their accuracy rate is almost above 90%. Doctors indicate that as long as the pregnancy test products are purchased from a legitimate pharmacy, their effectiveness and accuracy are theoretically the same. However, this relies on the correct method of use. It is recommended to use morning urine for pregnancy tests with test sticks. A pregnant person will see both the T line and C line on the test stick, while a non-pregnant person will only see the C line. If only the T line appears and not the C line, the test stick is considered invalid and should be discarded. If neither line appears, it may be due to expiration or poor product quality, and the test stick should also be discarded.

2. Accuracy of Evening Pregnancy Tests

Using evening urine for pregnancy tests is less accurate compared to morning urine. Sometimes, if the menstrual delay is short, the test may not yield results. If there is an urgent need to know if you are pregnant, it is best to undergo a blood test for chorionic gonadotropin, which is the most sensitive method for diagnosing early pregnancy. It is normal for menstruation to vary by 3 to 7 days before or after the expected date. If there is a delay of more than 10 days, there is a possibility of pregnancy. If there are no obvious discomforts, you can wait for three days and then take the test again using morning urine.

3. How to Use Pregnancy Test Sticks

To use a pregnancy test stick, tear open the aluminum foil packaging along the notch and remove the stick. Wear the disposable plastic gloves provided in the box and firmly hold one end of the stick's handle with your thumb. Tilt the end with the urine absorption hole downward, ensuring that the observation window faces downward and the pattern faces upward. Urinate onto the absorption hole on the side of the stick, allowing the urine to pass through the hole for 1 to 2 seconds (avoid wetting the observation window as this will invalidate the test). Then, flip the stick so that the observation window faces upward and continue to hold it at an angle. You will see a purple-red liquid move across the observation window. Within 1 minute, purple-red lines will appear in the observation window. Pregnancy results can be read after 1 minute, while non-pregnancy results require a wait of 3 minutes. Results read after 5 minutes are invalid. Urine samples from any time of day are suitable for pregnancy tests with test sticks, but morning urine is preferred during early pregnancy.