Finding the right tests…
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Finding the right tests…
Serology
This test checks a sample of your urine for hCG, a hormone your body starts making almost immediately once a fertilised egg implants in your uterus. A chemical strip changes to show a positive or negative result within a couple of minutes, without needing a blood draw. Because hCG needs time to build up to a detectable level, testing too soon — before your period is actually late — can give a negative result even in a real pregnancy, so timing matters more than the test itself. Using your first urine of the morning, when it's most concentrated, gives the most reliable reading, which is why doctors and home tests both recommend it when possible.
This test reports a simple positive or negative result based on whether hCG is present in your urine above a set threshold, rather than a numeric value. hCG is detectable in urine as early as about 10 days after conception in some people, but most tests are more reliable once your period is late, since the hormone needs time to rise to a detectable level. Morning urine, which is more concentrated, gives the most reliable result, especially early in a suspected pregnancy. No blood draw or special preparation is needed — just a urine sample.
Human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG, is a hormone made by tissue that eventually becomes the placenta, and your body starts producing it almost as soon as a fertilised egg implants in the lining of your uterus. This test uses a chemical strip that reacts to hCG in a urine sample, turning positive within one to two minutes if enough of the hormone is present.
hCG rises quickly in early pregnancy but still needs time to reach a level the strip can detect. Testing before your period is actually late often gives a negative result even in a real pregnancy, simply because there isn't yet enough hCG in your urine — this is why home test instructions and medical guidance both suggest waiting until at least the day of your expected period.
Using your first urine of the day improves accuracy, since urine is most concentrated after a night without drinking fluids, giving the test more hCG to detect in a smaller volume. A properly performed test, done at the right time, is considered highly accurate, though a negative result in someone who still suspects pregnancy is generally worth repeating a few days later or confirming with a doctor.
hCG can appear in urine as early as about 10 days after conception, according to MedlinePlus, though most home tests are more reliable once your period is actually late.
Testing before your expected period is often too early, since hCG needs time to rise to a detectable level; a repeat test a few days later, or a blood test, may give a clearer answer.
Yes. Testing with your first urine in the morning, when it's most concentrated, gives the most reliable result, according to MedlinePlus.
A properly performed test, done at the right time, is considered highly accurate, with a positive result more likely to be correct than a negative one taken too early.
This page is general information about the test, not medical advice. Your own report's reference ranges apply — please discuss your results with your doctor.
This urine test gives a simple positive or negative answer, while a quantitative blood hCG test reports an actual number and can sometimes detect pregnancy slightly earlier.
Yes, repeating the test after a few more days, or confirming with your doctor, is reasonable if your period is late and an earlier test was negative.
No. This test only needs a urine sample, with no fasting or other special preparation.