Pregnancy Test
Reviewed
A pregnancy test checks your urine or blood for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone made by the placenta after a fertilized egg attaches to the uterus. It can tell whether you are pregnant.
Preparation and collection
For a urine test, do not drink large amounts of fluid before collecting your sample, as it could dilute hCG. If you are taking fertility drugs, talk to your provider if you get a positive result. No special preparation is needed for a blood test.
Understanding this test
Use the reference interval and units printed by the laboratory that performed the test. A result outside that interval is not a diagnosis by itself, and a result inside it does not rule out every condition. Your symptoms, history, medicines, timing, and related tests can change what the result means.
- Home urine tests are 97-99% accurate when done a week or two after a missed period, but false-negatives can occur if tested too early.
- False-positive results can happen, especially with fertility medications.
- Blood tests can detect very small amounts of hCG and may show pregnancy before a missed period, but they are less commonly used because urine tests are faster and cheaper.
- Quantitative blood tests measure exact hCG levels and can help monitor pregnancy health, but they are not routine for initial pregnancy detection.
What to do next
If you get a positive result, see your provider as soon as possible to confirm and start prenatal care. If you get a negative result but still have pregnancy symptoms, repeat the test in a week or contact your provider. Always discuss your results with a healthcare professional.