Pregnancy Tests

Find out if you’re pregnant without making a doctor’s appointment. A home pregnancy test offers an easy and discreet way to detect a pregnancy before you visit your gynaecologist. Similar to ovulation tests, pregnancy tests mostly require a urine sample – ideally in the morning when the presence of the pregnancy hormone is at its highest. The test allows you to detect pregnancy only a few days after conception (after the egg settles in the womb).

How Does a Pregnancy Test Work?

Pregnancy tests detect the presence of a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the body of the pregnant person and signals it with a mark on the indicator which is saturated with an antibody.

Notino.co.uk offers a wide selection of tests with varying levels of sensitivity for a quick and comfortable pregnancy detection. Different tests might show positive or negative results with different stripes or symbols, which is why you should always make sure to read the instructions first and learn how to assess the test correctly. The specific method of use always depends on the particular test you’ve purchased.

Types of Pregnancy Tests and Their Purpose

• Testing strips can be simply put in a cup with urine. Submerge the strip up to the indicated line and then place it on a flat, non-absorbent surface. The results will be visible in a matter of minutes.
• Plastic pregnancy test has a case with a window where you apply the urine with a provided dropper.
• In-stream pregnancy test offers a simple use without any additional equipment.
• Blood test can detect pregnancy several days earlier than a urine test (approx. 8 or 9 days after conception). A drop of blood is taken from the tip of your finger with a provided lancet.
• Digital pregnancy test with week indicator will show you a positive result as well as the number of weeks from the day of conception.

When Should You Use a Pregnancy Test?

Pregnancy tests have a high sensitivity and are reliable from 2 weeks after conception in the case of a urine test, and about 9 days after conception in the case of a blood test. The indicated sensitivity is usually around 25 or 10 mIU/ml hCG – the lower the number, the more sensitive the test (because it’s able to detect lower levels of the pregnancy hormone).

In general, the best time to do a pregnancy test and obtain a reliable result is when your regular period is several days late. This also reduces the possibility of a falsely negative test. The test should be done again after about 10 days.

Results of a Pregnancy Test

• In the case of a negative result, only the control stripe will show up – not the stripe indicating pregnancy. Always wait at least 4 minutes to confirm the results.
• Positive results are usually indicated by two full stripes or a plus sign (depending on the type of test). If the stripe indicating pregnancy is only faint (a so-called “ghost line”), the test is most likely positive, but it was performed too early in the pregnancy and will need to be repeated.
• If neither of the stripes shows up, the test is invalid and you need to use a new one.

If you get a positive result from a home pregnancy test, make an appointment with your gynaecologist.

False Results of a Pregnancy Test

• A falsely negative pregnancy test might occur if you decide to perform it too early. In that case we recommend waiting a few days and repeating the test.
• A falsely positive pregnancy test might happen even if you’re not pregnant – some residue of the pregnancy hormone remains in your body for several days in cases of miscarriage or termination of pregnancy. A false positive can also occur with certain conditions, disorders or in the case of ovarian cysts. Certain medications might increase the levels of the hCG hormone in your blood and urine. This is why you should always confirm a positive pregnancy test by visiting your gynaecologist.

Purchase your pregnancy test from the comfort of your home at notino.co.uk and get easy, quick and reliable results!