Thursday, October 17th, 2024

Why is the pregnancy test giving wrong result? Know 5 reasons


Many emotions arise in every woman’s mind while doing a pregnancy test. This is the most important turning point in her life, but if this test is not done with caution, many mistakes can happen. Due to which a false negative or false positive test can come. If your pregnancy test comes out wrong, then it is not the kit’s fault, but yours.

Layan Al Rahmani, assistant professor, board-certified gynecologist and maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Loyola University in Chicago, says, 99 percent of home pregnancy tests claim to be accurate, but only if you use them correctly. Let’s know what things are important to keep in mind so that your pregnancy test is not wrong.

Dispel these myths about home pregnancy test

Do not rush to get tested

It’s important to take the test at the right time to get accurate results. But don’t rush too much because your body only starts making the pregnancy hormone (hCG) when a fertilized egg implants in your uterus. It takes time for hCG to build up to the amount that can be detected by a home pregnancy test, so it’s common to get a false negative result if you take a pregnancy test too early.

Do this, you will get the correct reading quickly

Do this, you will get the correct reading quickly

The best time to test is after the first day of your missed period. If your periods are irregular, wait until 36 days after your last period to test.

If you test late, do not trust the result

If you test late, do not trust the result

If you discover you have missed a period for several weeks and suspect you are pregnant, be cautious with home pregnancy test results. You may get a false negative if you test too late.

Home pregnancy tests lose their accuracy after the first trimester, as they may not be able to detect the version of the pregnancy hormone (hCG) present in your body at that time. For accurate results, visit a doctor as he/she or she will do a blood test to determine the result.

Do not use expired test kit

Do not use expired test kit

If you have had a home pregnancy test for a few months, make sure to check its expiry date. If it has expired, do not use it as it may not give you the correct result.

Do not test too late in the day

Do not test too late in the day

The best time to do the test is in the morning, right after you wake up. This is because when you pass urine for the first time in the morning, the concentration of pregnancy hormone (hCG) in your urine is higher. If you do the test late in the day, it will be a false negative test.

Do not drink a lot of water before taking the test

Do not drink a lot of water before taking the test

Drinking a lot of water before taking the test can dilute your urine so there will not be enough hCG for an accurate test, resulting in a false negative.

Keep track of time

Keep track of time

If you don’t check the result after too long, you may see a faint, colorless line called the evaporation line, which may confuse you. Also, you may get a false negative result if you read the result too early. So set a timer and wait for the time specified by the instructions on the test kit.

Do not ignore the effect of medicines

Do not ignore the effect of medicines

If you are taking any fertility treatment that contains hCG hormone, it may affect your results. hCG hormone is found in hormonal injections for fertility. Be sure to ask your doctor about this.

do not consume alcohol

do not consume alcohol

Alcohol will not affect the results of your pregnancy test. But if you think you may be pregnant, it’s important to stop drinking alcohol or using drugs, as these things can be harmful to your baby.

If you think you are pregnant but the result is not correct, then test again after a few days. At the same time, if your periods are irregular, then do not hesitate to talk to your doctor at that time.

Disclaimer: This information is for general information only and is not a substitute for any medical advice. Always consult a doctor for any health problem.

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