Thanks to the fact that at one time they were invented tests for early definition pregnancy , positive result a woman can receive it long before the happy news is confirmed by a gynecologist. You can be sure that you are pregnant already in the first weeks after conception. If you use the test correctly, you can get the maximum exact result.
But for this you need to know exactly how to do the test, which one to buy, when to do it and when you can find out about pregnancy. All the features of rapid pregnancy diagnostics, as well as how to choose the best test, which ones are best to use at a certain period and how to understand the result, are described in this article.
How does it work?
The mechanism of all pregnancy tests is the same: they determine whether a woman’s urine contains human chorionic gonadotropin hormone(HCG) , which begins to be produced in the body after the embryo attaches to the uterus. That is, when conducting a test, the result appears when hCG appears in a woman’s urine after conception.
Positive result “two stripes” in the photo
Women are always interested in when the test will show the exact result. It should be taken into account that the amount of hCG after conception increases every day, but immediately after fertilization, only specialists can determine that a woman managed to become pregnant by conducting a special study of venous blood. In this way, you can get a positive result five days earlier than any of the tests will show 2 strips. Sometimes in the first days after conception, the 2nd stripe is barely visible - this depends on the level of sensitivity.
For most rapid tests, the sensitivity level starts at 25 mUI hCG. Sensitivity on some is indicated by 10 mUI hCG, but there is no evidence of this. According to many pharmacists, such sensitive tests are just an advertising ploy. It can also be considered a publicity stunt that the rapid test supposedly has the highest probability of detecting pregnancy even before a delay with an accuracy of 99%. Moreover, their price is quite high.
How to do it?
When to take a pregnancy test is determined by each woman independently. But at the same time, it is important to know when you can take a pregnancy test so that it correctly shows the exact result. The answer to the question of when it is better to take a pregnancy test after conception depends on whether it is regular or not. menstrual cycle in a woman. The corresponding number of days is counted after ovulation , so it depends on when to do the test.
After a delay
If you need to determine whether there is a pregnancy after a delay, then on what day the test is done does not matter, since the presence of hCG in the urine can be diagnosed already from the first day of the delay. In any case, test manufacturers, when answering the question of how long after a pregnancy test can be taken, claim exactly this. But in fact, experts say that pregnancy should be determined a week after the delay, that is, after the expected day of the onset of menstruation. At what delay the test accurately determines pregnancy also depends on the level of its sensitivity.
Before the delay
However, many women still rush to take a pregnancy test before the delay, choosing highly sensitive samples that have good reviews. However, it should be noted that even the most sensitive test before the delay cannot always show correct result. After all, it is important to correctly determine when testing can be done before the delay, so that even before the delay, the reliability of the result is high.
For example, if a woman has a regular cycle of 28 days, then if the procedure is done on the 23rd day of the cycle, even a sensitive jet before the delay will not detect pregnancy, since there will not be a sufficient level of hCG in the blood. Whether pregnancy will be indicated before the delay on the 26th day of the cycle also depends on the day of fertilization and the duration of the cycle, etc.
With a regular menstrual cycle
It is with her that the reaction occurs when the pregnancy test shows. That is, when a pregnancy test shows a result, this is due to the fact that the hormone contained in a woman’s urine reacts to the impregnation of the strip. As a result, a second line quickly appears on the test.
Instructions
The test is easy to do: you need to take a clean container and collect some urine in it. The strip is lowered into the urine with the tip to the mark indicated on it and held for 10 seconds. It is necessary to lower the strip on the desired side. Evaluation of the result takes from 1 to 10 minutes. Whether the second strip will show in the first minute depends on the hCG level: the lower it is, the later the second strip appears.
What day does it show?
From the first day of delay.
pros
Inexpensive.
Minuses
It’s not very convenient to use, it can make mistakes, and it won’t show until there’s a delay.
Modern strip tests
- Evitest №1
- FRAUTEST Express
- Eve (can be determined from 1 day of delay)
- Secret
- BBtest
- Femitest Practical
- Femitest Practical Ultra
- Itest Plus
Tablet test
Produced in a special box with two window openings.
Tablet (cassette) - Evitest Proof
Works like a strip test. Also included is a pipette and a container for collecting urine.
Instructions
The first step is to drop 4 drops of urine into the first window. After 1-10 min. in the second, 1 or 2 stripes appear.
What day does it show?
From the first day of delay.
Positive
Inexpensive, the result is easy to determine.
Negative
There are a lot of steps to take to get done.
Modern tablet tests
- Evitest Proof
- LadyTest-C
- Frautest Expert
- Sezam
- Clearblue
- KnowNow Optima
- Femitest Handy
Jet test
The name itself determines the principle of action: it can be done by placing it under a stream of urine.
Inkjet testing method - Frautest Exclusive
It is important that those who use Frautest , the instructions for use were strictly followed. Although sensitivity Frautesta and others of the same type are very high, Frautest Exclusive can show negative result if it has been used incorrectly.
Instructions
Place the tip with the filter under a stream of urine or in a container with it for 10 seconds. After this, 1 or 2 stripes appear in a special hole after 1-10 minutes.
Accuracy
Can detect hCG in urine 5 days before the delay. When asked whether the test may not show pregnancy if conception has occurred, the answer is negative. The jet test will show pregnancy before the delay, as well as in the first days of the delay.
Positive
Convenient use, accuracy.
Negative
The price of a jet pregnancy test is high.
Modern inkjet tests
- Frautest Comfort
- Evitest Perfect
- Frautest Exclusive
- Femitest Jet Ultra
- Clearblue
- Clear View
- Duet
Electronic test
It is also called a digital pregnancy test.
Electronic verification method - Clearblue
Reviews from experts indicate that this is the most modern rapid test.
Instructions
You need to lower the test end with the filter into the urine and hold it until it is soaked. You can evaluate it in three minutes. If the result is positive, the word " pregnancy" or the "+" sign.
Accuracy
Shows pregnancy 4 days before the delay. Thanks to its high accuracy, it shows a 99% correct result 2 days before the date of menstruation.
Positive
If we evaluate the sensitivity of pregnancy tests, then it is the electronic test that has the highest sensitivity. There is no need to ask which are the most sensitive electronic tests, since they all have high sensitivity.
Negative
The price of an electronic pregnancy test is very high. How much such a test costs depends on the manufacturer, but on average the cost is about 400 rubles.
Pregnancy test Clearblue (the so-called “blue” test), despite its high cost, is very popular. If you are using an electronic Clearblue If the instructions are followed, the result will be as accurate as possible. However, this pregnancy test, the instructions for use of which indicates that the resulting inscription on Clea Blue disappears after some time, the woman will not be able to keep it as a souvenir as the first certificate of pregnancy. Nevertheless, Clearblue is now popular.
Reusable digital tests
Latest invention - test with USB connector , which you can connect to your computer and see the result.
The kit includes 20 cartridges treated with a reagent that reacts to the presence of hCG in urine. With this test you can check whether conception has occurred 21 times.
Accuracy
Shows the result 4 days before the delay.
Positive
If you choose such a test, it can be used many times. Some tests can also check your gestational age. But the time of conception can be determined with 92% accuracy.
Negative
It is currently very difficult to purchase replacement cartridges.
Negative pregnancy test
A pressing question for many women is whether the test can be negative during pregnancy? Patients often ask doctors whether a rapid test can not show pregnancy.
Why the test does not show a delay in pregnancy may be explained by the fact that the woman is using it too early
. After all, some of the tests are not so sensitive.
In some cases, a woman who wants to get pregnant begins to check the “situation” too early, long before her expected period. For example, if you start testing on the 25th day of the cycle, then at this time the hCG in the blood has not yet reached the required level. Even if a woman has a 25-day cycle, when you can get pregnant depends on the day of ovulation, so if the value is negative, you should check the result after some time. The woman decides which test to choose. But it is important to take into account that a negative value is also possible if it is used incorrectly.
So the reasons negative test during pregnancy may be the following:
- Testing too early.
- Disorders in a woman's body.
- Incorrect application of the test.
False Positives
The appearance of two stripes in the absence of pregnancy is possible:
- During the first two months after birth.
- During development ovarian dysfunction .
- When hormone-producing tumor .
- If a test is used that has expired.
Are the results reliable if testing is done during menstruation?
Another actual question- can it be done during menstruation pregnancy testing? After all, sometimes a woman’s periods continue even after conception, so such an analysis is very relevant.
Menstrual blood does not affect testing, so how much a pregnancy test shows the result does not depend on menstruation. Rest assured that even if the procedure is done using blood-stained urine, the results will not be affected. This means that during pregnancy two bright stripes will appear.
Results for ectopic pregnancy
If , ovum is attached outside the uterus. However, the body still produces hCG. But in this case, hCG grows slowly, and sometimes is absent altogether. That is, the usual rapid test for ectopic pregnancy shows 2 stripes. In this case, the second stripe may be barely noticeable, blurry, if compared with the one that appears when normal pregnancy. When taking a pregnancy test, you need to take into account what day it will show the result for an ectopic pregnancy: the second line appears only after a delay has occurred. On what day the pregnancy test will show depends on the day of conception and individual characteristics female body.
There is a special test Inexscreen , which, a few weeks after the delay, makes it possible to suspect that the pregnancy is ectopic. Its action is based on the determination of the modified isoform that is part of hCG. In the case of ectopic pregnancy, this figure is much higher than the 10% that is noted with normal course pregnancy.
Results for frozen pregnancy
Positive or negative when frozen pregnancy the test result will depend on the time when it was carried out. So, if initially two clear stripes appeared, then, after a few days, one strip became fuzzy, and after a few days one strip disappeared completely, one can suspect that the pregnancy has stopped. In this case, it is important to immediately visit a specialist who will determine how to check the result in this situation.
Whether a gynecologist can determine pregnancy before a delay in this case depends on the research methods.
What to do next if the result is questionable?
Regardless of which day of the cycle the test is taken, it may ultimately be questionable. This is often evidenced by the reviews that women write on each thematic forum.
Doubts arise if it is not clear how many stripes have appeared. Sometimes the second stripe is difficult to see, it is somehow blurry and indistinct. This happens in the following cases:
- Low levels of hCG in the body are associated with women’s health problems.
- A test that is no longer suitable for use (it may not work due to its expiration date or damage).
- The desire to see exactly two stripes (“I’m afraid I’m not pregnant”). Often a woman notes indirect signs- nausea, weight loss - and convinces herself that she is pregnant.
What is the probability that a woman is pregnant can only be confirmed. Can a blood test for hCG be wrong? In this case, the answer is negative.
But you can still repeat the test after taking a 2-3-day break - do it, for example, on the 31st day of the cycle, if menstruation usually begins on the 28th day. The second or third attempt will be successful.
Which tests “cheat” most often?
No matter how much manufacturers claim that their products are almost 100% effective, some of the tests we do still show unreliable results.
According to the observations of many women, the most common false negative and positive results are shown by the following tests:
- Faith Test (its sensitivity is 25 mIU/ml);
- Bebicek
- Mon Ami
- Bee-Sure
- rest assured
conclusions
What to do if a woman already has a positive test in front of her eyes depends only on her. Many expectant mothers, even those for whom pregnancy is long-awaited and planned, do not know what to do next when they see two stripes. In fact, you need to calm down and rejoice. Regardless of which week the test you choose shows pregnancy, there is still a lot of time ahead. Now it’s important not to be nervous, to practice healthy eating And correct image life. And also - visit a doctor to confirm the good news and receive important recommendations.
A pregnancy test is an easy way to determine pregnancy today. With its help, you can find out about the onset of pregnancy even before the delay begins, because today tests are offered with varying degrees sensitivity. To obtain a reliable result, you need to understand all the intricacies of home rapid pregnancy diagnostics.
What is a pregnancy test?
A few weeks after conception, the body begins to secrete a hormone - human chorionic gonadotropin or hCG. This occurs after the embryo attaches to the uterus. With each subsequent day, the content of hCG in the blood and urine increases, reaching a maximum value by 8-9 weeks.
Sensitivity to this hormone is the basis for determining pregnancy using a test. Its onset is signaled by two strips soaked special substance. One of them turns bright red after contact with any liquid, and the second only when immersed in urine, which contains a certain level of hCG.
Probability of correct result
The accuracy of the information obtained when using a pregnancy test is 97.5%. At the same time, the result is affected by compliance with the instructions for its use and following certain rules.
When can I do a pregnancy test?
As a rule, manufacturers of pregnancy tests recommend that they be carried out no earlier than the first day of the delay. This is due to the fact that hCG is not yet detectable in urine. With regular menstrual cycle the mature egg is released in its middle. If the cycle is 30 days, then this will be day 15. Fertilization occurs only over the next two days. The egg that has merged with the sperm moves to the place of attachment in the uterus for another 5 days.
Therefore, hCG will begin to be released approximately on the 22nd day of the cycle, and at first in small quantities. At this time, only a blood test can determine its presence. It will appear in urine a little later. With an irregular cycle, a woman herself can determine the day of ovulation using special tests and measurements. To this day, another 12 are added, and then you can take a blood test for the level of hCG, and it will begin to be detected in the urine approximately 15 days after the expected ovulation.
Types of pregnancy tests
In pharmacies you can find a wide range of pregnancy tests, differing in price and stated level of sensitivity. Each manufacturer promises the most accurate result, so you should understand how they differ from each other:
Strip test or known to many paper strip, on which there is a layer with antibodies to hCG. They react with the hormone contained in the urine, which leads to the appearance of a second stripe. Such tests are the most popular and are characterized by their low cost. But they make mistakes more often than other types, are not very convenient to use, and also show pregnancy only after a delay. To diagnose pregnancy using a strip test, you need to take a clean container and fill it with a small amount of urine. The tip of the dough is lowered there to the designated level and held for 10 seconds. The result becomes noticeable within 3 to 10 minutes. In this case, the higher the concentration of hCG in the urine, the faster the second strip will appear.
Jet pregnancy test It is convenient because it does not require collecting urine in a container. It should only be placed under a stream of urine, which is convenient when used outside the home. The tip with the filter is under the stream for 10 seconds, and the result will become noticeable within 1-10 minutes. Such tests are expensive, but they are accurate and easy to use.
Tablet test It is a box with two windows. According to the principle of operation, it is similar to the strip test, but is considered more reliable and, accordingly, higher in price. It comes with a pipette and a container for collecting urine. A little urine is dripped from a pipette into one window, and the result is displayed in the second. You can evaluate it within 10 minutes.
Electronic or digital test for pregnancy is by far the most modern. The tip of the test with a filter is placed in the urine and you need to wait until it is soaked. The result is assessed after 3 minutes. In this case, the window will show “+” or the inscription “pregnansy”. Electronic tests are considered the most sensitive, and they are also the most expensive. Manufacturers even create reusable models.
Pregnancy test before delay
Today you can find ultra-sensitive tests in pharmacies. They show pregnancy even before the delay occurs. They indicate a sensitivity level of 25 mUI, indicating the corresponding hCG content in the urine at which the second strip appears. Such tests can be done 4 days before the delay. If a lower level of sensitivity is indicated, it is not advisable to carry it out before the delay.
How to take a pregnancy test?
Before using a pregnancy test, you must carefully study the instructions, as they differ depending on the type. For the result to be reliable, you must adhere to the following rules:
- The tests usually do not indicate the time of the test, but gynecologists recommend doing it in the morning after waking up: the highest concentration is in night urine hCG hormone, and on early stages Only at this time of day can the result be noticeable.
- Information content can be affected by taking diuretics, as well as a large volume of fluid consumed.
- If, after a delay, the test does not show pregnancy, and menstruation still does not occur, it should be repeated after a few days. This is especially true for women with irregular cycles.
- The cheaper the test, the lower the cost of the reagent used in it, therefore, the higher the likelihood of error.
- The most common test strips are those that are dipped into a container of urine. It is important here that the test is placed only up to the specified level, maintained no more than the recommended time, and the result is assessed after the time allotted in the instructions. This will help reduce the likelihood of an incorrect result.
- The test result is described in the instructions for it. One strip is colored in any case, since it is a control, and the second only when pregnancy occurs, that is, for a positive result, 2 bright red stripes must appear.
Why is there a weak second line on the test?
If there is a second line on the test, but it is faint, this may indicate a low concentration of hCG in the urine. The reasons may be:
- threat of interruption;
- short gestational age;
- ectopic or non-developing pregnancy.
This result is considered positive, but it is best to do a control test after a few days.
Sometimes a faint second line may indicate a false positive result.
False positive pregnancy test - how to understand?
It happens that a woman strictly follows the instructions, but the test shows an incorrect result. Reasons for a false positive test:
- Ovarian dysfunction.
- Reception medicines with hCG prescribed for infertility.
- Use for two months after an abortion or miscarriage.
- Hydatidiform mole and chorionic carcinoma, which are hormone-producing tumors.
- Expiration date of the test.
Can the test not show pregnancy?
Reasons why home express diagnostics do not show a second line during pregnancy:
- too short a period;
- threat of interruption;
- ectopic or non-developing pregnancy;
- endocrine dysfunction;
- failure to comply with the instructions for using the test;
- kidney diseases;
- stale urine or urine collected during the day;
- a large amount of fluid drunk, leading to a low concentration of hCG.
Is it possible to take a pregnancy test in the evening?
You can take a pregnancy test at any time of the day, but the reliability of the result still depends on this: as mentioned above, the highest concentration of hCG in the body of a pregnant woman is observed in the morning after waking up. Therefore, when performing diagnostics in the evening, you can get a false negative result.
This is especially often observed up to two weeks after conception, when the hCG level has not yet reached the value required for diagnosis. But at the same time, in the urine accumulated overnight, its concentration is such that the test determines its presence. In the future, as the level of the hormone increases, it will be detected by the test at any time of the day.
Can the test detect an ectopic pregnancy?
In an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg often implants in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus. But at the same time, the hCG hormone is produced. The peculiarity in this case is that it grows very slowly or its level does not increase at all over time.
The test will show a positive result after a delay, but the second strip will most likely appear faintly. Diagnose ectopic pregnancy Only a gynecologist can.
Maria Sokolova
Reading time: 18 minutes
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A test for rapid diagnosis of pregnancy is in great demand today - most women carry out this simple test on their own to make sure that they are pregnant - or not.
Tests for rapid diagnosis of pregnancy do not require a special setting or complex procedure - they are simple, have everything that is necessary for self-diagnosis, and can be used in any conditions.
Types of modern accurate rapid tests for determining pregnancy
You can, of course, try to determine whether pregnancy has occurred - or make sure that it is not there - but pharmaceutical products Still, they are preferable in terms of accuracy and reliability of the results, and this is an indisputable fact.
Today, tests for the rapid diagnosis of pregnancy are known in four types:
- "Strip tests" (test strips for dipping into a container with urine), which cost from 5 to 100 rubles and sensitivity from 25 mME/ml;
The modern pharmacy market offers a wide range of domestic and imported pregnancy tests, in a wide range of prices and designs.
Every woman who wants to purchase this simple but very “wise” device wants to be sure that the test will not let her down.
How to figure it out big world suggestions? Which pregnancy test should you prefer?
List of the best pregnancy tests: Frautest, Evitest, Clearblue
Test for rapid (home) pregnancy diagnosis "FRAUTEST" (manufactured by Human Gesellschaft, Germany), is most popular among women as the most accurate.
These tests are represented by a wide variety of all types of tests - "FRAUTEST Express" and "FRAUTEST Double contro" (strip strips) - from 120 before 150 rubles; "Frautest Expert" (plate test) - from 110 before 140 rubles; "FRAUTEST COMFORT" and "FRAUTEST EXCLUSIVE" (jet tests) - from 250 before 350 rubles In addition, the Frautest Planning set with urine collection containers in the amount of 7 pieces is popular - the price for it is around 450 rubles.
Tests "Evitest" (manufactured by Helm, Germany) are also very popular.
They are also distinguished by a wide range of product types - “Evitest No. 1” and Evitest Plus No. 2 (strip test) - from 85 before 150 rubles; "Evitest Proof" (plate test) - 190-220 rubles; "Evitest Perfect" (jet test) - 210-250 rubles
Although tests for rapid diagnosis of pregnancy "Clear Blue" (manufactured by Unipas Ltd., UK) are the leaders in numerous surveys of women who have used it, it is significantly inferior to the first two leaders in the rating in terms of its price - it is too high.
The fact is that ClearBlue tests belong to a new generation of products of this type, and are released in a digital version that is easy to use. This test is different highest precision- there were cases when he indicated pregnancy 5-6 days before the expected date of menstruation.
The price of ClearBlue tests varies widely 350-900
rubles
True Russian-made tests for rapid diagnosis of pregnancy
Tests for rapid diagnosis of pregnancy, like everyone else medications and medical equipment are registered with the Department of State Control of Medicines and Medical Equipment of Russia, and are required to be certified.
Today, the Russian market offers rapid pregnancy diagnostic tests from 6 domestic and 23 foreign manufacturers.
Unfortunately, tests for rapid diagnosis of pregnancy, which are produced by Russian companies, are represented by a limited number of products. In addition, Russian tests are often inferior in quality and sensitivity to those from Germany and the USA.
Today, among Russian brands the most famous and in demand tests are:
- Faith — good quality, accuracy, according to customer reviews. Has a low cost -from 15 rubles .
- rest assured— the most popular test among women, very inexpensive — from 30 rubles .
- Biocard hCG- highly accurate, in many cases it can determine the onset of pregnancy even before a missed period. Price - from 60 rubles .
Test rating - kWhich ones don't deceive?
Please note that the assessment of tests is subjective and may not coincide with your opinion.
1. One-stage test (hCG-express-ICA) “Be sure” (manufactured by Progressive Biomedical Technologies, Ltd., Russia)
Strip strips with sensitivity from 25 mME/ml, cost 30-40 rubles
These tests are in demand among women as they are very accurate and do not require special conditions for use.
Test strips must be lowered into a container with a portion of urine to the control line. The result will appear within 2-10 minutes.
Women's opinion:
Love:
I did this test three times, three days in a row, starting from the first day of the delay. At first it clearly showed one stripe, just one... But!! After 2-3 minutes, a weak second line appeared, which might not have been seen (if I hadn’t been so looking forward to my pregnancy and hadn’t looked at these tests “under a microscope”). On the 5th day of the delay, this test already showed two clear stripes, and all doubts and worries disappeared by themselves.
Marina:
By the way, many tests “sin” with this - at the very beginning of pregnancy the stripes appear very weakly, almost imperceptibly. In particular, this happened to me with the “Faith” test.
Lyudmila:
I bought this test by accident, I just asked at the pharmacy “some inexpensive one.” On the third day of the delay, he showed a confident second line, and from the very beginning I had no doubt that I was pregnant. I left it as a souvenir in the family album!
Test strip for immunochromatographic determination of human chorionic gonadotropin /h-hCG/ “EAKS” (manufactured by “EAKS”, Russia).
2. Tablet test “BIOCARD hCG” (manufactured by “Dialat Ltd”, Russia)
A set of reagents for pregnancy testing costing from 60 before 90 rubles
The test kit includes a special plastic pencil cassette with a window and a pipette for adding drops of urine.
Women's opinion:
Julia:
It seems to me that the BIOCARD hCG test is the most sensitive, because it can predict pregnancy even before the delay. He showed me two stripes two days after the start of the delay - an excellent result, considering the fact that this test Russian production. By the way, I took two tests one day apart, and the Evitest test has not yet been able to detect my pregnancy.
3. Test strip “hCG-IHA-VERA” (manufactured by FACTOR-MED, Russia) – sensitivity from 20 mIU/ml
Cost - from 15 to 35 rubles. This test for rapid (home) pregnancy diagnosis is a leader in sales ratings.
This test is in demand among customers in Russia, as it is low cost and at the same time accurate.
Women's opinion:
Lyudmila:
A flimsy test that falls apart in your hands even before use! I bought it because the pharmacy didn’t have the Bi-Shurs tests, which I always used and trusted. The same test, when lowered into a glass of urine, took so long to draw in the liquid that I spent several unpleasant minutes waiting for the result. Having received a negative result, I did not believe this test - but, honestly, he did not lie about it. The next day I took another test, Evitest, and only then was I able to calm down.
Oksana:
I almost had a heart attack because two lines clearly appeared on the test the day before my expected period. The pharmacy told me that, unfortunately, there are often errors with these tests. I won't buy it again!
Natalia:
I will never forget those thrills when two lines appeared on the test! By that time, we had quarreled and broke up with the young man, and I bought this test. To calm down and finally make sure that there is nothing left of him in my life. I'm convinced, of course! Two stripes clearly appeared on the test! I spent two days (it was a weekend) in tears and worries, and then went to the doctor... What do you think the gynecologist told me? That's right - I'm not pregnant!
4. Frautest Express test strip (manufactured by AXIOM Gesellschaft fur Diagnostica und Biochemica mbH, Germany)
Price - from 80 rubles. Accuracy - 99%!
The usual strip test is used by dipping it into a container with a collected portion of urine. The result will be visible within 5-7 minutes.
5. Test strip “Evitest ONE” (manufacturer Helm Pharmaceuticals GmbH, Germany)
It is popular because it is accurate - 98% - and affordable - from 81 to 95 rubles.
Women's opinion:
Olga:
I have special complaints about this test - it showed me a negative result during the first month and a half of pregnancy.
Elena:
And I am happy with this test, because on the third day of the delay it showed me the result - long-awaited pregnancy! Girls, test results may depend on many factors. I can’t judge how often this test is wrong, but for me it was 100% true the first time, and I’m happy!
Which pregnancy tests lie more often than others?
We talked about the wide variety of tests (domestic and foreign manufacturers) for determining pregnancy presented on the Russian market. But large variations in the prices of these useful devices may not indicate their “truthfulness”.
Unfortunately, Both expensive and cheap tests can make mistakes , and these errors are all the more annoying since they are associated with such a delicate area as a woman’s pregnancy.
Only through surveys of women who have already used pregnancy tests can it be revealed how “true” a particular device is and how much customers trust it.
Tests from Russian manufacturers, which most often can show a false positive result:
- "Bee-Sure"
Tests from foreign manufacturers that allow a positive result in the absence of pregnancy:
- "Eva-test"
- "Evitest"
- "Mon Ami"
- "I-test"
- "BB test"
- "Bebicek"
Tests from Russian manufacturers, which often showed a negative result during pregnancy:
- "Bee-Sure"
- "Rest assured"
Tests from foreign manufacturers that showed a negative result during pregnancy:
- "Eva-test"
- "I-test"
- "Frau test"
General rating of the most “sensitive” tests for determining pregnancy (domestic and foreign manufacturers):
- "Frau test" (positive pregnancy result 6 days before the delay)
- “Clear Blue” (positive pregnancy result 5 days before the missed period)
- "Rest assured"
- "Certainty"
- "BB Test"
- "Lady's test"
- "BonaDea"
- "Evitest"
- "Know Now"
- "Mon Ami"
- "Ministrip"
Modern tests allow you to determine pregnancy in as soon as possible after “suspicious” sexual intercourse. But this cannot be done earlier than is possible in principle. And in order to correctly answer the question posed, it is necessary to understand the processes that occur after the meeting of the sperm and egg.
How does a pregnancy test work?
So, we know that after fertilization has occurred, the level of the hCG hormone in a woman’s blood begins to increase, which indicates the presence of pregnancy. Having identified this substance, the test shows us a positive result - two stripes. In fact, the test reacts to the presence of the hormone gonadotropin in the urine: when the level of hCG rises, a reagent appears on the second test strip.
HCG in the body of a pregnant woman is produced immediately after implantation of the embryo into the wall of the uterus, first in the blood, and a little later in the woman’s urine, and it is usually found in a lower concentration in the urine than in the blood. Implantation, in turn, occurs 7-10 days after ovulation. But it must be taken into account that the level of the hormone grows gradually, increasing daily until it reaches a certain level, which the test is able to record. This moment determines the time frame. That is, the test is able to “detect” the presence of the hormone gonadotropin in the urine of a pregnant woman no earlier than 11-15 days after the day of the last ovulation. The lower the sensitivity threshold of the test, the earlier it can detect pregnancy and the more expensive it costs. Tests with a sensitivity of 10 mIU/ml (as a rule, belong to this category) are able to determine an existing pregnancy several (up to five) days before the expected period. Tests with a sensitivity of 25 mIU/ml (in the form of strip strips) determine pregnancy starting from the first day of delay. But these are statistics. And there are also individual cases with early or late implantation. Therefore, a premature test can often be wrong.
When to take a pregnancy test if you have an irregular cycle?
The likelihood of a test error is especially high if a woman has an irregular menstrual cycle. A test carried out ahead of time in this case may show false negative results, because the gestational age may be too short for the reactive strip to work. A pregnancy test error is more likely the earlier the test was performed.
How to take a pregnancy test correctly?
Regardless of the regularity of the cycle and other characteristics of the female body, the reliability of the test will be higher, the more clearly the rules for its conduct are followed. Any violations of the instructions may cause false results.
It is believed that a pregnancy test in the morning shows the most reliable results, since the concentration of hCG in morning urine is the highest. But if the delay is already long, then the test can generally be carried out at any time of the day.
A prerequisite is compliance with the rules of sterility: no foreign substances should enter the test liquid, and therefore hands must first be thoroughly washed and wiped dry. Also prepare a sterile vessel for collecting material in advance.
The test strip must be immersed in a container with urine only to the level indicated on its strip, and always on the side indicated (where the reactive substance is contained).
You should not evaluate the test result earlier than the time specified in the instructions (usually 5 minutes) or much later. After long period time, the results of any test are considered invalid.
Especially for- Elena Kichak
From Guest
For the first pregnancy, the test showed a positive result on the first day of the delay. On the second only on the 5th, on the third I didn’t show it at all for a long time, I donated blood for hCG and found out. The children are all healthy, praise be to the Almighty
From Guest
And the test showed me two and one very weak one during the first pregnancy, after my period and it was 5 weeks)
From Guest
And I took a test at 3 weeks of pregnancy and showed a negative result, 10 days later I donated blood for hCG and in the end the period was 5 weeks)) And now I’m 8 months)))
From NastenkaYour
I took a test on the 7-10th day of the delay, I don’t remember exactly, it showed everything clearly, it was just 6 weeks from the month. and from the estimated conception 4 weeks.
From Guest
I am now 4 days pregnant, my husband and I really want a baby. I took the test 2 days in a row in the morning and it was negative, we’ll wait a little longer...maybe in 2-3 days it will show 2 cherished stripes :-)
From Guest
There is a delay of 5 days. I took a negative test, but the delay continues, I will do another test later. And the symptoms are still there
From Guest
The test showed me the correct (positive) result only at 6 weeks of pregnancy. so I don’t know who shows it on the 10th day after PA...
From Guest
It feels like everyone here is so happy about pregnancy.. But I just took the test with fear.. 10 days after the test, negative result.. I hope I didn’t lie!
From Guest
4 days before the delay it showed a weak 2nd line, after another 2 days the line was even clearer. When do you expect such news tests a good thing, I am happy mommy and future dad is calm.
Home pregnancy tests do not require special conditions or medical knowledge, they are easy to use... and, apparently, this is why they cause mistrust among consumers. There is a very common belief that all pregnancy tests “lie”, the results, both positive and negative, can be unreliable, and even that “home tests are clean water sell". And all because, according to doubters, it is impossible to determine pregnancy in just a couple of weeks using a stick soaked in urine. The reason for such a disrespectful attitude towards pregnancy tests is obvious: women do not understand how this method “works”, and misunderstanding always gives rise to mistrust.
In fact, home tests for diagnosing pregnancy give a very high reliability of the result. The method is based on the detection of hCG, human chorionic gonadotropin, in the urine of a pregnant woman. This highly specific protein is secreted exclusively by the tissues of the fetus and enters the maternal body through the bloodstream. Outside of pregnancy, the appearance of hCG in a woman’s blood is impossible, so there can be no error as a result. Two weeks after hCG is present in the urine expectant mother in quantities sufficient to carry out the test. Usually this period corresponds to the first days of missed menstruation.
The most commonly used pregnancy test is a strip of thick paper, one end of which is impregnated with a special indicator (a substance that reacts to the presence of hCG). To obtain a result, the indicator must be saturated with urine; Some types of tests are placed under a stream of urine directly during urination, others need to be lowered into a container with urine for a few seconds. It should be noted that home tests are always supplied detailed instructions with explanatory drawings.
Of course, like any other product, a pregnancy test can be defective. A control strip should be visible at one end of the test. The suitability of the test is judged by its presence. Therefore, before use, you need to carefully examine the test and make sure there is a control strip. If the result is positive, a second stripe appears next to the control one or (on some imported tests) the color of the control stripe changes. If the second line (or color change - depending on the manufacturer) does not appear, the result is negative, and there is no hCG in the woman’s body, which indicates pregnancy.
If there are certain characteristics of a woman’s health, the test may give a false negative result, that is, it may not determine whether pregnancy has occurred. This is due to the fact that human chorionic gonadotropin does not always accumulate evenly in the blood of the expectant mother, and therefore there may be insufficient concentration in the urine - if the amount of the hormone is lower than usual, testing will be unsuccessful. As a rule, in this case, a very weak second stripe appears, or it appears only partially (half, a third, or even dotted). Sometimes, with a very low level of hCG, the coveted strip does not appear at all.
The reliability of the test result may be affected by dietary errors (for example, a protein-free diet, which significantly reduces the production of hormones), taking diuretics, and kidney disease accompanied by impaired urine formation. Another reason for a false negative result (there is a pregnancy, but the test “does not see it”) is associated with closer to the end of the menstrual cycle, and not in the middle, during expected ovulation: for a number of reasons, among which the most common are stress, acclimatization, viral diseases and hormonal imbalance, ovulation may shift towards the end or, conversely, the beginning of the cycle. In this case real time Pregnancy at the time of testing may be less than a week, and the level of hCG in the urine will still be too low to be “caught” by a home test.
All of the above test error options are related to hormonal disorders or too early in pregnancy. According to statistics, they make up only 0.3% and cannot serve as a reason to “accuse” a home pregnancy test of unreliability. With a normal regular menstrual cycle and the absence of kidney disease and endocrine system For women, the test gives a 100% correct result.
Myth No. 2. The price of a pregnancy test determines its quality.
This is a common consumer misconception, not only in the matter of choosing a pregnancy test, but also in general as a guide when purchasing a product: the price, unfortunately, cannot always judge the quality of the product. As for the choice of test, the price difference between them is usually not very significant. Different prices for essentially identical tests are explained by the usual criteria for marketing: country of origin, brand popularity, transportation costs, taxes, customs duties, packaging format, discounts or changing prices per batch during purchase. The price of the test is also determined by production costs and an emphasis on ease of use: it is clear that a strip of paper should cost less than an electronic “tablet test” (tablet test) - after all, it is much easier, faster and cheaper to produce. It is safe to say that the price of a pregnancy test is related to the factor of comfort and ease of use. However, none of the listed factors in any way affects the quality and reliability of the main factor - the result of the pregnancy test itself. After all, absolutely all tests are expensive and cheap, Russian or imported, paper and tablet, “immersion” (which must be lowered into a container with urine) or “jet” (placed under a stream of urine), those that have a second strip, and those , in which the color of the main stripe changes - all of them diagnose short-term pregnancy using a patented medical indicator that reacts to the presence of hCG in the urine of the expectant mother. And the price has absolutely nothing to do with it!
Myth No. 3. For a pregnancy test to be reliable, you need a long delay in menstruation.
Many women do not believe that if menstruation is delayed by just two or three days, much less without a delay at all, you can get reliable result. And they prefer to wait a week or two after the expected (and did not come) menstruation before testing - just to be sure, so to speak! This idea is wrong for two reasons. Firstly, human chorionic gonadotropin in the urine of a pregnant woman increases precisely during the first two to three weeks, which corresponds to the expected period of menstruation and the first week of delay, but later its amount can fluctuate significantly, which can lead to unreliable results. However, there is another, more serious reason not to delay testing for long: early “home” diagnosis of pregnancy using a test and, accordingly, early application to a specialist allows you to timely identify and prevent the development of various complications of pregnancy, for example, an ectopic pregnancy or the threat of early miscarriage. So you shouldn’t delay testing too much: positive influence This does not indicate the reliability of the method, but here are more serious options medical examination"delays". To use a pregnancy test, it is quite enough, and especially impatient young ladies can start trying their luck a couple of days before the start of their expected period!
Myth No. 4. To take a pregnancy test, you need to “be patient” until the morning.
The instructions for the pregnancy test indicate that “it is best to conduct the test immediately after sleep: morning urine is more concentrated and the hCG content in it is higher.” Based on this rational advice, some women make too radical conclusions. Conclusion one: only the morning test is reliable; at other times of the day there may be an error. Conclusion two: in order for morning urine to be concentrated, you should not go to the toilet at night - you need to wait until the morning and accumulate “ good material" for research. Both conclusions are absolutely absurd, and the option with “accumulation” of urine is also harmful to the health of the expectant mother. Testing in the morning increases the chances of early diagnosis pregnancy for those who are especially impatient - it is really easier to record the very first, slight bursts of hCG, indicating the birth of a new life, in the morning. However, this does not mean that you cannot trust the second stripe that appears at a different time of day.
As for the idea of not urinating the night before testing in order to increase the reliability of the result, this is not only pointless, but also really not healthy. The accumulation of urine overnight will cause discomfort and sleep disturbance, and the pressure of overflowing Bladder on the uterus can lead to an increase in its tone and the threat of termination of pregnancy. In addition, urine contains many harmful substances, formed as a result metabolic processes and requiring timely removal from the body. Of course, you can urinate if necessary the night before the test - this will not reduce the concentration of the morning urine. During sleep, we do not eat or drink, so the urge to urinate at night is, in principle, much less frequent than during the day - this is what ensures the concentration of the morning portion of urine required for research.
Myth #5: You shouldn't drink before taking a pregnancy test.
Another point in the instructions for the pregnancy test states: on the eve of the test, it is advisable not to drink a lot of liquid. Many women, based on this recommendation, conclude that drinking on the eve of the test is harmful in principle, and decide to completely stop drinking liquids during the evening or even the whole day before testing. The logic is the same as that of the authors of the idea of “bearing it” until the morning: since the concentration of urine affects the diagnosis, it is necessary to increase it as much as possible! And just as in the previous case, this logic is incorrect - complete fluid restriction is very harmful to the health of any person, and especially for the health of the expectant mother!
For normal operation For the body, it is important not just the supply of fluid, but also its constant presence in a certain amount: insufficient fluid supply can have a detrimental effect on health. Particularly important water balance during pregnancy, when the growth and development of the fetus depends on the normal exchange of fluid in the body of the expectant mother.
Average daily requirement in fluid before pregnancy is 1.5 liters. While expecting a baby, the body's need for water changes: at the beginning of pregnancy, fluid consumption increases, so you need to consume up to 2 liters per day.
On the eve of the pregnancy test, you can drink - just to increase the reliability of the result, you should not drink too much liquid, especially at night, and also indulge in drinks or foods that have a diuretic effect: this can lead to a decrease in the concentration of urine and make it difficult to diagnose pregnancy early using home remedies test. Diuretic products include watermelons, melons, pineapple, green and black tea, as well as drinks made from sour berries - red and black currants, lingonberries, cranberries, stone fruits, cherries, sweet cherries and rose hips. All of the berries listed are nephroprotectors, that is, they improve the filtration function of the kidneys and help remove excess fluid from the body. Apples, plums, pears, apricots, quince, mulberry, serviceberry and chokeberry have the same qualities.
Myth No. 6. 5 minutes is not enough for real results.
Manufacturers recommend assessing the result 3-5 minutes after using the pregnancy test. However, distrustful “users” often prefer to wait longer in the hope that the coveted strip will appear. In fact, there is no point in waiting for a long time for the result: 5 minutes is the maximum time required for chemical reaction indicator for the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin in urine. Therefore, waiting beyond this period cannot in any way affect the reliability of the result, confirm it or, on the contrary, refute it. If the coveted strip does not appear after 5 minutes, it will not appear even after several hours, and once it appears, it will not disappear anywhere.
Myth No. 7. It is more reliable to “test” several times a day.
There is another phrase that often becomes a reason for embarrassment for potential expectant mothers. The instructions read: “to confirm the result, it is recommended to repeat the test after 3-4 days.” This means excluding a false negative result (a negative test result in the presence of pregnancy) due to an insufficient amount of hCG in the urine at the time of the first test: if the result is negative, but menstruation does not begin and the suspicion of pregnancy remains, it is worth repeating the test a few days later. During this time, as pregnancy progresses, the amount of hCG in the urine will increase significantly, and the next test will be positive. However, some women misunderstand the purpose of repeated testing and, without delaying the study, conduct testing several times... in one day, believing that this will increase the reliability of the result. There is no particular meaning (as well as harm) in this action. If the coveted line does not appear on the morning test, this may mean two scenarios: either there is no pregnancy, or pregnancy has occurred, but the period is still too short, and the hCG has not been produced enough to be determined using a home test. Since urine is most concentrated in the morning, the researcher has very little chance of recording a positive result during repeated testing throughout the day. And the very increase in the level of chorionic gonadotropin in the body occurs unevenly, “intermittently” with an interval of sometimes up to 1.5–2 days. Most likely, repeating the test multiple times in one day will bring nothing but disappointment and unnecessary grief - it is better to follow the instructions and wait a few days before retesting.