How to use a pregnancy test strip

For the most reliable result, test from the day of your expected period. The Pregmate test is 99% accurate from that day, when used as directed. If you test earlier, hCG may not be high enough to detect yet, so a negative result doesn't rule out pregnancy. Retest in 48 hours with first-morning urine.

Morning is best, particularly if you're testing before your missed period. hCG builds up in your bladder overnight, so first-morning urine is the most concentrated sample you'll get all day. After your period is late, time of day matters less; just avoid drinking a lot of fluid right before testing.

You can. If you're past your missed period, hCG is usually high enough that it won't matter what time of day you take the test. But if you're testing early, a nighttime sample may be too diluted to pick up low hCG levels. Try to hold your urine for at least 3–4 hours and limit fluids beforehand.

Not for at least 12–14 days. After fertilization, an embryo takes about 6–12 days to implant. hCG production only begins after implantation and needs a few days to reach a detectable level. If you're not tracking ovulation, wait at least 21 days after unprotected sex or test from the day your period is due.

Test at least 21 days after the last time you had unprotected sex. If the result is negative and your period still hasn't shown up a week later, test again or see your healthcare provider.

False positives are rare. If a test line appears, hCG was detected. But hCG can be in your system for reasons other than an ongoing pregnancy. A recent miscarriage or delivery (hCG can linger for 6–8 weeks), a chemical pregnancy, or fertility medications containing hCG like trigger shots can all cause a positive result. Most common medications (antibiotics, painkillers, birth control, Plan B) do not cause false positives.

False negatives are more common than false positives. The usual reason for a false negative is testing too early, before hCG reached 25 mIU/mL. Diluted urine (from drinking a lot of fluids) is another common cause. If a test result is negative but you still haven’t had your period, retest in 48 hours with first-morning urine.

Probably not yet. Implantation bleeding happens around 6–12 days after ovulation, right when your body is just starting to produce hCG. At that point, hCG levels are usually too low for a home test. If you notice light pink or brown spotting that doesn't look like your usual period, wait until the day your period is due before testing. A negative result during suspected implantation bleeding doesn't rule anything out.

This may be an early pregnancy loss, sometimes called a chemical pregnancy. This can happen when hCG rises briefly in a very early pregnancy that does not continue. In most cases, it doesn't affect future fertility. If this happens, your healthcare provider can talk you through it.

If your treatment included an hCG trigger shot, leftover hCG from the injection can give you a false positive. Follow your clinic's instructions; they'll typically tell you to wait 10–14 days after the shot before testing at home.

99% accurate from the day of your expected period, when used as directed. Earlier than that, accuracy depends on where your hCG level is. The test detects hCG at 25 mIU/mL.

The test strip has antibodies that bind to hCG. When you dip it in urine, the sample travels up the strip. If hCG is at or above 25 mIU/mL, a colored test line appears alongside the control line within 5 minutes.

Yes, though heavy bleeding can make the strip harder to read. If you're unsure about the result, retest in 48 hours with a clean sample.