Confirming your pregnancy is now just a few steps away with home pregnancy test. Find out the relevance of home pregnancy tests right here. Before we go into the relevance of home pregnancy test, we need to first know how or based on what is the pregnancy test executed. The home pregnancy tests trace the presence of a certain hormone called the hCG, or the Human Chronic Gonadotropin in the urine of the woman. If high levels of this hormone are present in a urine sample, it means that you are pregnant. It has been found and observed that if the test is conducted exactly as per the instructions provided in the kit, then the results are same as that which is conducted in a doctor’s clinic. You can know your status right in the comfort of your home and at your convenience, this is the by far the only distinguishable aspect of getting the test done at home or at the clinic. In this articleHow is this hCG Present?Types of Home Pregnancy TestsAccuracy of Home Pregnancy TestHow is this hCG Present? During a successful conception, the egg gets fertilised by the sperm in the Fallopian tube. Within a week to ten days of time, this moves down through the Fallopian tube into the uterus as it implants on the wall of the uterus. Post implantation, the development of the placenta takes place and here is when the hCG hormone begins to get released into the body of the woman. From the blood, some of the hormone passes into the urine. In the initial stage of pregnancy, that is, in the first 2-3 weeks the levels of hCG surges up rapidly, almost doubling the reading within a couple of days. Thus, this makes an easy determination of possible pregnancy. Types of Home Pregnancy Tests Let us have a look at the types of home pregnancy tests. Test Strip – This is the most popular type that uses a test strip or a dip-stick. You can either hold the strip in your urine stream or dip it in a sample of your urine. If the strip or the dip-stick changes colour, it affirms the presence of the hCG hormone, thereby confirming your pregnancy. Cup Device – Here, you need to collect a sample of urine in the cup provided. As you place several drops you will notice a change of colour in the test device or the cup where the urine gets collected, thereby signalling that you are pregnant. It is always recommended that the home pregnancy tests are conducted in the morning with the first sample of urine of the day for the most accurate results. Accuracy of Home Pregnancy Test Home pregnancy tests can have different results for every each woman. There can be various reasons for it, like:The menstrual cycle and dates of ovulation may not be uniform in every month.You do not get to know the exact date of implantation of the egg.Every home pregnancy test kit has a different way or device to conduct the test that may vary in recording the presence of hCG with any uniform sensitivity. This will result with varied results.Most kits show results when you conduct on the time of the first period missed.The levels of accuracy is found to be the highest when the test is conducted a week after the first missed period.Finally, the relevance of the home pregnancy test lies on how well you adhere to the instruction provided in the respective test kit. If it says that you need to hold the test strip on the stream of the first urine of the day for several seconds, you need to do exactly that. If it says to test the dip-stick or strip, or use a device on the first urine, then you need to follow the time mentioned. So it is important to read the instructions carefully to obtain the most accurate results. And not to forget always get a confirmation test done after a follow up with your doctor as you decide on your antenatal health care.
Confirming your pregnancy is now just a few steps away with home pregnancy test. Find out the relevance of home pregnancy tests right here. Before we go into the relevance of home pregnancy test, we need to first know how or based on what is the pregnancy test executed. The
home pregnancy tests trace the presence of a certain hormone called the hCG, or the Human Chronic Gonadotropin in the urine of the woman. If high levels of this hormone are present in a urine sample, it means that you are pregnant.
It has been found and observed that if the test is conducted exactly as per the instructions provided in the kit, then the results are same as that which is conducted in a doctor’s clinic. You can know your status right in the comfort of your home and at your convenience, this is the by far the only distinguishable aspect of getting the test done at home or at the clinic.
How is this hCG Present?
During a successful conception, the egg gets fertilised by the sperm in the Fallopian tube. Within a week to ten days of time, this moves down through the Fallopian tube into the uterus as it implants on the wall of the uterus. Post implantation, the development of the placenta takes place and here is when the hCG hormone begins to get released into the body of the woman. From the blood, some of the hormone passes into the urine. In the initial stage of pregnancy, that is, in the first 2-3 weeks the levels of hCG surges up rapidly, almost doubling the reading within a couple of days. Thus, this makes an easy determination of possible pregnancy.
Types of Home Pregnancy Tests
Let us have a look at the types of home pregnancy tests.
Test Strip – This is the most popular type that uses a test strip or a dip-stick. You can either hold the strip in your urine stream or dip it in a sample of your urine. If the strip or the dip-stick changes colour, it affirms the presence of the hCG hormone, thereby
confirming your pregnancy.
Cup Device – Here, you need to collect a sample of urine in the cup provided. As you place several drops you will notice a change of colour in the test device or the cup where the urine gets collected, thereby signalling that you are pregnant.
It is always recommended that the home pregnancy tests are conducted in the morning with the first sample of urine of the day for the most accurate results.
Accuracy of Home Pregnancy Test
Home pregnancy tests can have different results for every each woman. There can be various reasons for it, like:
- The menstrual cycle and dates of ovulation may not be uniform in every month.
- You do not get to know the exact date of implantation of the egg.
- Every home pregnancy test kit has a different way or device to conduct the test that may vary in recording the presence of hCG with any uniform sensitivity. This will result with varied results.
- Most kits show results when you conduct on the time of the first period missed.
- The levels of accuracy is found to be the highest when the test is conducted a week after the first missed period.
Finally, the relevance of the home pregnancy test lies on how well you adhere to the instruction provided in the respective test kit. If it says that you need to hold the test strip on the stream of the first urine of the day for several seconds, you need to do exactly that. If it says to test the dip-stick or strip, or use a device on the first urine, then you need to follow the time mentioned. So it is important to read the instructions carefully to obtain the most accurate results. And not to forget always get a confirmation test done after a follow up with your doctor as you decide on your antenatal health care.
