How accurate are pregnancy tests?

Contributor: snowminx snowminx
Are different tests more accurate or are they all about the same?
I took a home one today (my period is 4 days late) and it came up negative. Have you never known anyone to have a false negative this late? It just scares me because I just got it from the dollar store so I don't know how reliable that is.
03/29/2013
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Contributor: js250 js250
I know EPT is pretty reliable, but am not sure about the other brands. I would think it has a lot to do with the sensitivity of the chemicals that react to the hormones....
03/29/2013
Contributor: Peggi Peggi
Personally, I don't trust the urine stick tests fully, because they are never 100% accurate. Close, like EPT being maybe 98 or 99% accurate, but if there is something causing a hormone imbalance, it can read negative or positive. The only 100% accurate test is a blood test from your doctor.

Totally unrelated but related...this guy was bored and used his girlfriend's pregnancy test and it turned out positive, he went to the doctor and turns out he had cancer which was why it was showing as positive! check it out!
03/29/2013
Contributor: PeaceToTheMiddleEast PeaceToTheMiddleEast
I have used a dollar store one with my last child and it was not false. But to be sure because I really don't trust any of them I wanted to have my blood drawn at the doctors. They conformed that I was indeed pregnant.
03/29/2013
Contributor: married with children married with children
we have never had one give us a bad result. They have all been accurate.
03/29/2013
Contributor: captainsgirl captainsgirl
Quote:
Originally posted by snowminx
Are different tests more accurate or are they all about the same?
I took a home one today (my period is 4 days late) and it came up negative. Have you never known anyone to have a false negative this late? It just scares me because I just got it ... more
they can always be wrong, however i used dollar store ones for all 3 of mykids and they worked fine. make sure you use your first morning urine.
03/29/2013
Contributor: Kaislee Kaislee
I had a negative result when I was pregnant with my daughter I was about 5 days late when I took it. I waited 4 more days and took another one and it turned out positive! So I would suggest waiting a few more days to let the hcg hormone build up if you are pregnant so you will get an accurate result! Good luck! Oh and I would just get the cheap tests even the dollar store tests work as well as the expensive name brand tests.
03/29/2013
Contributor: PropertyOfPotter PropertyOfPotter
The pink dye tests are the ones to get. The blue dye ones are horrible because they commonly produce false positives. It could be that your hcg levels aren't high enough yet, or it could be something else that's going on in your life that's causing your period to be late. Give it another few days and test again. Did you use first morning urine? That also can make a difference. I hope you get the result you're looking for.
03/29/2013
Contributor: marriedlady123 marriedlady123
When in doubt, go to your doctor or a planned parenthood clinic!
03/29/2013
Contributor: Noelle Noelle
Quote:
Originally posted by snowminx
Are different tests more accurate or are they all about the same?
I took a home one today (my period is 4 days late) and it came up negative. Have you never known anyone to have a false negative this late? It just scares me because I just got it ... more
Take another one in a week. Mine was EPT and it said negative, but 2 wks later it was positive, I think it said negative the first time because I JUST got preg and didn't have much of the hormones going on just yet.
03/30/2013
Contributor: eri86 eri86
Well, if a false positive is possible, I don't see why a false negative can't be.

Maybe take another one in a week to be certain. Or get tested by doctor.
03/30/2013
Contributor: bayosgirl bayosgirl
It is unlikely it would give you a false negative 4 days after your missed period. But if you still don't get your period in a week I would try again just in case.
03/31/2013
Contributor: Munko Munko
Some do have different sensitivities - the ones claiming to be "early result" generally test positive much sooner than the ones that are recommended only after you've missed your period.

You could have ovulated late (or, not at all this month) so I'd wait a few more days and try again if your period doesn't show up. If you haven't had your period by then, I'd call for a blood test (some women don't spill HCG into their urine as quickly, or very rarely, at all) and if the blood tests comes back negative then you can discuss options with your doctor and whether to wait it out or induce menstruation with medication.
03/31/2013
Contributor: Gone (LD29) Gone (LD29)
I have one child and have had several pregnancy scares, and I've never had a home pregnancy test be wrong.
03/31/2013