Choosing a Pregnancy Test-Kit

Choosing a Pregnancy Test-Kit

When it comes to having a nagging suspicion about the possibility of being expectant, the best way to get an initial confirmation is to purchase a test-kit from the drug store. The problem is that there are a number of different kits available, so how do you know which one is the best for you? Do the test results vary and does it really matter which brand you use?

A test-kit measures the hCG hormone level in your urine. All home test kits measure this. Usually they work in the same way, where you hold the test stick under a steady stream of urine, or place it in a clean beaker of urine for a certain period of time. Most test sticks even look the same - with two small windows, one to test that the stick is working, and one to give you the result.

Where they differ is in how sensitive they are to measuring the hCG levels. A pregnancy test-kit will usually detect enough of the hormone to give an accurate positive result from the day that your period is due. It is possible however for a false negative to be attained this early into the pregnancy as the hCG level is not high enough to measure. If this happens, wait a few days and if still no period, test again.

For women who are trying to get pregnant and therefore are too impatient to wait until the date of their period, or those who are worried that perhaps they are expectant by mistake, it is possible to purchase a test-kit that is sensitive enough to measure the hCG hormone from four days before the period is due. Four days may not seem that much faster to you - but it's a lot if you are desperate to have a result.

When choosing a test-kit, you also need to consider how many test sticks to purchase. Some test kits have one or two test sticks in the box. Others have three. If you are testing early, you may want to consider buying a multi-pack of two or three, just in case you feel you are pregnant, have no period, but a negative result with the first stick. It's always a gamble with early testing, so it's more economical to be prepared!

Also read our article about Pregnancy Guides