COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT HOME PREGNANCY TESTS
Since there are quite a few Home Pregnancy
Tests (we studied 10 different ones), questions were placed into two categories:
those questions common to similar test kits, and those questions unique
to a specific test kit.
COMMON QUESTIONS TRUE OF MOST PREGNANCY TESTS:
1. QUESTION: How does the Home Pregnancy Test
Work?
ANSWER: When a woman becomes pregnant, the pregnancy hormone (hCG - Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin) is produced. The Home Pregnancy Tests detect the presence of this hormone in the patient's urine.
2. QUESTION: For the stick type pregnancy test
kits that have absorbent tips, can I collect the urine in a cup instead?
ANSWER: Yes, this can be done if the cup or container
is clean. Be sure to immerse the absorbent tip into the urine cup for the
required amount of time.
3. QUESTION: What do I do if the test result is
positive?
ANSWER: A positive test indicates the presence
of hCG in the urine. A doctor should then be consulted to confirm the pregnancy.
4. QUESTION: What do I do if the test result is
negative?
ANSWER: If the test result is negative, no pregnancy
hormone has been detected and the patient is probably not pregnant. However,
if the period has been miscalculated, wait one week and repeat the test.
If the test is still negative, and the period still hasn't started, a doctor
should be consulted.
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS FOR SPECIFIC TESTS:
EPT
1. QUESTION: Do I have to test in the morning?
ANSWER: No. You can use EPT any time of day. You do not have to use first morning urine.
2. QUESTION: How soon can I use EPT?
ANSWER: EPT can detect hCG hormone levels in your
urine as early as the day your period should have started. EPT can be used
on the day of your missed period as well as any day thereafter.
3. QUESTION: What if the test changes color, but
the color isn't the same as mentioned in the instructions?
ANSWER: If the test is positive, the round results
window will retain a line of some shade of pink/purple color after the
2 minute waiting period. The line can be any shade of pink/purple and does
not have to match the color pictured or the color present in the square
control window.
4. QUESTION: What if I don't wait the full 2 minutes
before reading the test result?
ANSWER: If you read the test result before the
full 2 minutes have passed, you may not give the test enough time to work,
and the results may be inaccurate.
5. QUESTION: What if I don't think the results
of the test are correct?
ANSWER: If you follow the instructions carefully,
you should not get a false result. Certain drugs and rare medical conditions
may give a false result. Analgesics, antibiotics, and birth control pills
should not affect the test result. If you repeat the test and continue
to get an unexpected result, contact your doctor.
BE SURE
1. QUESTION: Five minutes after I add in 6 drops
of urine into the sample well, if I do not see any rose pink color migration
take place on either window 1 or window 2, what should I do?
ANSWER: The "Be Sure" One Step Pregnancy test should work if you follow the instructions properly. But if the above occurs, you should add an additional drop of urine and within minutes you should start to see a rose pink color migration take place from window 2 to window 1. Read the result after 5 minutes.
2. QUESTION: Within seconds after I add in the
urine sample, if I see a pink color cover the entire window #2, and there
are a few vertical lines that appear darker than the rest of the window,
does this mean that I am pregnant?
ANSWER: You may see a few vertical streaks which
should eventually disappear. This is completely normal and indicates that
the device is working properly. You should never use any vertical streaks
as part of your result in determining your pregnancy. Only a horizontal
line band in window #2 can be used to confirm your pregnancy.
3. QUESTION:In One Step, I did not use exactly
6 drops of urine. Will I still get an accurate result?
ANSWER: One drop more should not affect the results.
If not enough urine is added to the test\/well, the test will not work
properly.
4. QUESTION: After a certain length of time can
the result change?
ANSWER: A positive result will not change several
days after the test is completed. However, some reddish background might
be noticed several hours after the test is performed. A negative result
should not be read in the test window more than five minutes after the
test is performed. After 30 minutes some negative tests might appear to
be weakly positive.
5. QUESTION: Can I get a false or misleading reading?
ANSWER: This should not happen if you follow the
instructions correctly. However, if the reaction pack is out of the foil
wrapper for more than five minutes before you conduct the test, you might
cause a false result.
6. QUESTION: What if I am uncertain about the test
results?
ANSWER: Call Syntron Bioresearch, Inc. toll free
at 1-800-854-6226 if you have any questions about your results.
CONFIRM
1. QUESTION: When can I do the test?
ANSWER: As early as the first day you miss your period you can test. And you can test any time of the day, you don't have to use first morning urine.
2. QUESTION: How long will the blue line of a pregnant
test result last to show someone?
ANSWER: The test will last at least 24 hours.
3. QUESTION: Does drinking alcohol affect the test?
ANSWER: No.
4. QUESTION: Can any medications affect the test?
ANSWER: Only medication containing the pregnancy
hormone can affect the result. However, in addition to certain drugs, there
are rare medical conditions such as ectopic pregnancy or an ovarian cyst,
as well as choriocarcinoma and hydatidiform mole that can give a false
result.
5. QUESTION: What if the test is allowed to run
for more than 5 minutes?
ANSWER: This is fine. The test results will not
change for up to 24 hours.
ADVANCE
1. QUESTION: Do I have to test in the morning?
ANSWER: No, the Advance test works any time of day.
2. QUESTION: How accurate is the Advance pregnancy
test?
ANSWER: In laboratory studies, Advance was shown
to be over 99% accurate.
3. QUESTION: Do I have to wait until the End of
Test Window turns red before reading my result?
ANSWER: Yes. The End of Test Window must turn
red before you read your result.
4. QUESTION: Can the test result change after standing
for a certain length of time?
ANSWER: A positive test result will not change
after the test is completed. A negative test result should be read as soon
as possible after the End of Test Window turns red.
ANSWER
1. QUESTION: When can I do the test?
ANSWER: One can test any time of the day, and the test can be done as early as the first day of the missed period.
2. QUESTION: How accurate is the test?
ANSWER: Consumers have been shown to obtain correct
results 96% to 97% of the time.
3. QUESTION: How long will the pink line of a pregnant
test result last to show someone?
ANSWER: A positive result will last as long as
24 hours. A negative result will not last.
4. QUESTION: Does drinking alcohol affect the test?
No it does not.
5. QUESTION: Can any medications affect the test?
Yes, if the medication contains the pregnancy
hormone: Pregnyl, Profasi, Pergonal. Clomid, Serophene, painkillers, antibiotics
or birth control pills shouldn't affect the test.
6. QUESTION: What if I am not sure of the test
result?
ANSWER: If not sure of the results, repeat the
test with a new test kit in a few days.
7. QUESTION: What if the test is allowed to run
for more than 5 minutes?
ANSWER: A positive result will last up to 24 hours,
but a negative test won't last.
ANSWER PLUS
1. QUESTION: How accurate is the test?
ANSWER: In laboratory testing, it has been found to be over 99% accurate.
2. QUESTION: Can any medicine affect the result?
ANSWER: The results should not be affected by
pain relievers, antibiotics, or birth control pills.
3. QUESTION: What happens if I let the vial stand
for less than one minute?
ANSWER: If the test result is white you will need
to retest with a new kit.
PRECISE
1. QUESTION: If I see a very lightly colored check
mark or a portion of the check mark, am I pregnant?
ANSWER: Yes it does, and if still unsure, wait 10 to 15 minutes for a darker check mark to appear.
2. QUESTION: Is my result permanent?
ANSWER: A positive results will last a very long
time, but a negative result only lasts approximately for 30 minutes or
so.
3. QUESTION: What if the End of Test Window does
not turn pink?
ANSWER: If a pink color does not appear after
one minute, add two extra drops of urine to the urine well. Now you can
read the result after the pink color appears.
4. QUESTION: What if I put urine in the urine window?
ANSWER: Just shake the drops off the window and
start over. Both windows are protected by a plastic shield.
CLEARBLUE EASY
1. QUESTION: Do I have to use first morning urine?
ANSWER: No, can be used any time of day from the day your period is due.
2. QUESTION:How accurate is Clear blue Easy?
ANSWER: In laboratory trials, the test have proven
to be more than 99 accurate.
3. QUESTION: Can I get a false or misleading result?
ANSWER: Non reliable results may occur if the
following happens: absorbent tip is wet before using the test, test is
out of foil wrapper for more than 24 hours before conducting test, not
enough urine on absorbent tip, or test is not kept absorbent tip downward
during the test. Certain rare medical conditions can also cause a false
result.
4. QUESTION: Can any medlcines affect the result?
ANSWER: Medicines which contain the pregnancy
hormone can affect the results. Hormone therapies like Clomid, painkillers,
or contraceptive pills should not affect the test result.
5. QUESTION: Does drinking alcohol affect the result?
ANSWER: No it doesn't
6. QUESTION: Does it matter if I touch the absorbent
tip?
ANSWER: No it doesn't.
7. QUESTION: I have collected a urine sample in
a container. -Can I still use the test?
ANSWER: Yes, it is ok if collected in a clean
dry container and used promptly. If you need to store it for more than
an hour, put it into a refrigerator and once ready to use, allow to warm
up at room temperature for 30 minutes before using.
8. QUESTION: What if I am uncertain about the test
result?
ANSWER: If you are uncertain about the test result,
it is probably best to retest with a new kit, three days later.
9. QUESTION: What if I splash the test windows
with urine?
ANSWER: First, have the windows facing away from
your body to minimize the chances of this happening. Getting urine in the
small window might affect the results. If you don't get a line in the small
window, you will need to retest with a new test kit. But if you still get
a line in the small window, the test is ok.
Q TEST
1. QUESTION: What makes the Q Testrip turn blue?
ANSWER: Special antibodies that detect HCG in urine will turn the result Pad blue, thus indicating pregnancy.
2. QUESTION: Must I time each step exactly?
ANSWER: Yes, this is very important. If an error
in timing occurs, you should not read the results, and should repeat the
test using another Q Test Kit.
FACT PLUS
1. QUESTION: If I see a plus (+) sign appear,
but one line is darker than the other, am I pregnant?
ANSWER: Yes you are.
2. QUESTION: In step one, I did not use exactly
5 drops of urine, will I still get an accurate result?
ANSWER: One drop more or less should not affect
the result. However, the test will not work properly, if too little urine
is added to the well. If you think the test has been performed incorrectly,
retest with another Fact Plus Test Kit.
3. QUESTION: Can the result change from standing
for a certain length of time?
ANSWER: A positive test result will not change.
owever, some fading might occur after a few days. A negative Result should
be read right away. A negative result may also change after time to look
like a positive result.
4. QUESTION: Do I have to wait the full five minutes
before reading my results?
ANSWER: The key is to wait till End of Test Window
turns Red before reading the results.
In conclusion, the authors hope that the above questions will help to allay consumer concerns, and also help the pharmacist answer questions concerning the various test kits. We have taken the liberty of using the questions that were included with each Test Kit's instructions; for the most part the answers you see here also come from the Test Kit's instructions.