The tests are quite reliable, although they are inferior to laboratory blood tests in terms of diagnostic accuracy. However, a pregnancy test can be wrong. Most often this happens when the rules for its implementation are not followed.
Here is a list of the most common home pregnancy test mistakes:
• It was made in the evening.
It is best to do a pregnancy test in the morning, immediately after waking up - especially in the first days after a missed period. In the early afternoon, the concentration of hCG may not be sufficient for an accurate diagnosis.
• The test was taken too early.
Sometimes women take the test a week after unprotected sex, or even earlier. Alas, it's completely pointless. It takes time for the hCG level to rise and the test to be able to recognize it.
• Drinking plenty of fluids before the test.
The concentration of hCG in a certain volume of urine drops, and the test cannot recognize the pregnancy hormone.
• The test is overdue.
All express tests must indicate the expiration date. If the test is overdue, it will not be able to correctly diagnose the onset of pregnancy and will show a negative result if there is a sufficient level of hCG.
It is important to understand that the test may show an incorrect result, even if you did everything right. Only a doctor can accurately confirm the presence of pregnancy.