Urine
pregnancy test:
If
you think you may be pregnant, you may want to test yourself with a home
urine pregnancy test. These tests involve placing a small amount of
urine on a chemical strip and waiting for the strip to show the result.
These tests are best done on concentrated urine. Most women test
themselves right after waking up in the morning since this is usually
the most concentrated urine of the day.
Home urine pregnancy tests may not be
always be accurate if performed too early after a missed period. This is because these tests detect a
hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in the urine. Early in
a pregnancy, you may not have enough detectable HCG in your urine for
the home pregnancy test to work effectively.
Home
pregnancy tests vary by brand. They may differ in their degree of
sensitivity as well. The sensitivity of urine pregnancy tests is usually
measured in mIU/ml. The lower the number, the more sensitive the
test.
If you have a
negative home pregnancy test in the first week after a missed period,
you may want to retake the test a week later. Also, keep in mind that on
rare occasions, home urine pregnancy tests can give false-negative
results.
The Health and Wellness Center offers
free urine pregnancy
tests. Our urine pregnancy tests have a sensitivity of 20 mIU/ml.
Blood
test:
The
Health and Wellness Center also offers
blood (serum) pregnancy testing for a small fee. Blood tests are more accurate
than urine pregnancy tests because they are able to detect smaller
levels of HCG compared to urine pregnancy tests. In addition, blood
tests can also measure how much HCG is present (quantitative
test).
If
you have missed your period and want to get tested, make an appointment
to see us. (410) 516-8270.
References:
Bastian
L. et al. Diagnostic efficiency of home pregnancy test kits. Archives
of Family Med. 1998;7(5):465.
Wilcox
A. et al. Natural limits of pregnancy testing in relation to the
expected menstrual period. JAMA. 2001;286(14):1759.
Last
modified
11/29/2006
Disclaimer
