Does a pregnancy test always show correctly? Are pregnancy tests wrong and what could be the reason for this? Is it possible to do a pregnancy test wrong?

A delayed menstrual cycle worries every woman. What is the reason? Pregnancy, health problems, or recent stress? It is unlikely that anyone will immediately go to the hospital to find out the cause; each of the women will find her own explanation for what is happening. Someone hoping with all their hearts that the desired and long-awaited pregnancy has finally arrived. Or maybe the lady, on the contrary, is not yet ready to become a mother. And each of these women of childbearing age, with joy, excitement, fear in their souls, or in an absolutely calm state, will most likely immediately go to the pharmacy for a pregnancy test in order to resolve their doubts.

Most manufacturers recommend testing in the morning, when hCG hormone levels are at their highest. But if you still have to wait so long until the morning, and you can’t bear it anymore, then the question arises as to whether a pregnancy test can be taken in the evening. To answer this, you first need to understand the principle by which they work.

How the test works

Modern tests make it possible to determine pregnancy after 1-2 weeks from the moment of conception.

The test itself looks like a thin strip that is sensitive to the pregnancy hormone - It begins to be produced after the fertilized egg is fixed in the body. From the blood, the hormone enters the urine. It is believed that its highest concentration is achieved after a night's sleep.

Will the test show pregnancy in the evening if you choose it carefully? Whether the level of sensitivity of the test depends on its manufacturer, type and price - this is discussed in the next paragraph of the article.

How to choose the right test

There are several types of pregnancy tests:

• test strip - its popularity is explained by its low cost;
• tablet tests are more expensive, but you only need two drops to find out the result;
• Inkjet tests are very convenient to use: you don’t need to look for a container or worry about dropping the strip during the test and ruining the test.

If you need to determine pregnancy as early as possible, it is better to use innovative tests, although they are more expensive. If the timing is not so important, then why guess which pregnancy test to buy when you can simply ask the pharmacist at the pharmacy to recommend an option that is suitable for the price. As for the reviews about this product, the opinion of the majority of representatives of the fair half of humanity boils down to the fact that it is not a matter of price at all, and the cheapest test has never let them down.

At what time of day is the pregnancy test result more reliable?

It is known that the sensitivity of tests to hCG is no more than 25 mIU/ml. The hormone itself, as mentioned earlier, begins to be produced in a woman’s body only after the embryo is attached to the uterus. With each subsequent day, the probability of detecting pregnancy is higher, since the production of the hormone doubles.

Therefore, to the question of whether a pregnancy test can be done in the evening, the answer is as follows: if early diagnosis is important, then it is advisable to wait until the morning and only then perform the test. As pregnancy progresses, the hormone in the body becomes more and more. And soon a moment comes when it no longer matters what time of day it is taken, because the result will be the same - a positive pregnancy test. For early diagnosis, it is also good to donate. Blood is taken from a vein, and the test should be taken in the morning on an empty stomach.

How to use a pregnancy test correctly. Decoding the results

Rules of use depend on:

• if it is a test strip, then you need to collect the urine in a small container, open the package and lower the test to the line marked MAX. Hold for 5 seconds, then place the test on a dry surface (for example, a napkin). Usually the result appears immediately, but manufacturers advise waiting up to 5 minutes;
• in the tablet test there are two windows, where you need to apply a few drops of urine using a pipette;
• The stream test is placed under the stream for a few seconds while urinating. The waiting time for results in all tests is approximately the same.

Possible test results:

• only a stripe appeared on the right - a sign that there is most likely no pregnancy;
• two red stripes appear - a positive pregnancy test;
• only the left strip appears - perhaps the test is faulty, expired, or the technique for use was violated;
• positive pregnancy test: the second line is faint - most likely very small

If in doubt, the test can be repeated after a few days. If it turns out to be positive, then you should visit a gynecologist who, after examination, will prescribe an ultrasound diagnostic.

1%: room for error

Pregnancy tests show the correct result, usually 99% of the time. However, very rarely they can be wrong. This happens for the following reasons:

• the point is in the test itself (expired, defective);
• the technique of use is violated (for example, when a one-time test is used twice);
• I am pregnant, but the test showed a negative result. Not all tests can show a positive result even before a missed period. Perhaps the period is very short, and the test was carried out in the evening, and the level of the hormone in the body was not enough. Returning to the question of whether a pregnancy test can be done in the evening, it is clear that it is possible, but it is better to do it in the morning;
• There is no pregnancy, but the test showed its presence. The reasons may be health problems. Therefore, it is recommended to consult a doctor.

In what cases should you consult a doctor?

It should be remembered that delayed menstruation occurs not only during pregnancy. The reasons may be as follows:

• recent stress, both in an emotional sense (strong experiences such as fear, despair) and on a physical level (hypothermia, heavy physical exertion);
• rapid weight loss, exhaustion of the body as a whole due to prolonged fasting and an incorrectly selected diet;
• various diseases associated with hormonal imbalance in the body (ovarian cyst, uterine fibroids, prolactinoma);
• metabolic disease;
• avitaminosis.

In any case, you should consult a doctor and undergo additional examination, as the causes can be very serious. If you have a positive pregnancy test, you should also not delay going to the hospital. An ectopic pregnancy is a great risk to a woman’s life and health; to rule it out, it is necessary to undergo an examination and an ultrasound scan.

When thinking about whether a pregnancy test can be taken in the evening, it is also important to listen to your body. In addition to a delay in menstruation, there may be other signs indicating the presence of pregnancy: nausea, changes in food preferences, and their soreness. Hormonal changes lead to a woman becoming more emotional, which can cause increased irritability, tearfulness, or causeless joy. There is a desire to rest more, since the body will need a lot of strength to bear a child and further give birth.

A pregnancy test allows modern women to quickly obtain information about the fact of conception. It is easy to use and not as time-consuming as a visit to a gynecologist. The results of the research are reliable, while some people are happy and others are sad. However, some women are indignant that the testing failed them and showed an erroneous result. When and why does this happen?

Can a pregnancy test show an erroneous result?

The mechanism of any express test to determine conception, regardless of price and manufacturer, is based on the detection of human chorionic gonadotropin in the biomaterial (urine). This hormone is produced by the embryo from the moment it attaches to the endometrial tissue. On the 10th day from conception, the volume of the hormone in the female body increases to 50-100 units per ml. The hormone is excreted in the urine, which allows it to be used for research.

In order to determine hCG, a reagent is applied to the surface of the test, which consists of antibodies to the hormone. Upon contact with urine, it reacts with the active component of the test. In this case, if there is a fact of conception, a pair of stripes appear on the surface of the test.

In what cases should we expect an incorrect result and is this possible in principle? The test does not indicate pregnancy and is erroneous if storage rules are not followed, hygienic standards are violated, or there is pathology of the excretory system. Only a doctor's examination and an ultrasound examination can reliably confirm or refute the fact of pregnancy.

It is impossible to say with one hundred percent certainty whether the test is wrong. Repeating it a couple of days later will eliminate the possibility of error. Sometimes at this time a woman may experience other symptoms that indicate pregnancy - hot flashes, changes in taste habits, morning sickness.

If the test does not show pregnancy, but regular monthly bleeding does not occur, it is important to urgently visit a gynecologist and find out the cause of what is happening.

In what cases can a pregnancy test show one line if there is a pregnancy?

During the first days of pregnancy, the concentration of hCG in the blood reaches 25 units per ml, then the figure increases thousands of times. All modern tests react to a small concentration of the hormone. There are particularly sensitive models - tablet and strip tests. When using them, the likelihood of error is minimized. Some of them are able to determine the fact of conception on 1-2 days of delay, if the hCG has already been increased to 10 units per ml. The longer the time since fertilization, the more reliable the result will be.

If on the first day of the delay the test did not produce two bands, it should be repeated 3 days later. In the case of two stripes, there is no doubt about pregnancy (of course, if efforts were made to this during the previous three weeks and the woman is healthy).

How many days can a test not reflect pregnancy if it is present? Much depends on its quality, the accuracy of the manipulations, as well as the correct development of the fertilized egg. On the 5-6th day of delay, a qualitative test will show reliable data. If they are negative, but the woman is sure of pregnancy, she should visit a doctor and rule out pathological conception.

A pregnancy test may be mistaken and show one line, despite the presence of other signs of conception. The error is caused by the following factors:

• unconcentrated urine due to taking a diuretic and drinking a lot of water the day before;
• threat of failure;
• frozen pregnancy;
• development of the egg outside the uterus;
• kidney disease, heart disease.

Taking the test too early

Women's impatience and desire to find out whether the long-awaited pregnancy has finally arrived is quite understandable and understandable. However, the level of hCG to which the test responds rises only at the beginning of the expected period. For this reason, the test will show a reliable result 4-6 days from the moment when the new menstrual cycle should begin.

In some situations, hCG remains at low levels for a long time. In this case, the study should be repeated after 2-5 days. It is advisable to purchase a diagnostic device from another manufacturer. The absence of menstruation always has a reason, and if a woman is gynecologically healthy and has been sexually active for the previous three weeks, conception should be excluded or confirmed.

Unsatisfactory quality of urine

The test will show a positive result at a certain concentration of hCG in the urine. It may be underestimated not only because conception has not occurred. If you don’t have your period, but you drank a lot of liquid the day before or took a diuretic, the urine will be copious and unconcentrated. Then the test may well make a mistake and demonstrate a false negative answer. It is noteworthy that there are tests that show pregnancy only by analyzing morning urine.

Incorrect use of the test

• The best result will be shown by morning urine - the concentration of hCG in it is most reliable;
• conducting a study immediately after urination; old urine is not suitable for this, since the level of the hormone in it changes;
• the printed test should be used immediately; it cannot be kept open for a long time;
• use a sterile container when collecting urine;
• The suitability of the test can be checked by the appearance of one strip: it should appear in any case;
• the assessment takes place after 5-10 minutes, two lines indicate pregnancy;
• For a correct result, one qualitative test is sufficient; a control measurement can be performed after 3 days.

Problems with the urinary system

The result can be significantly distorted by kidney disease. In this situation, the volume of hCG remains extremely low for a long time. It does not grow when there is an inflammatory process in the urinary tract. Protein in the urine also skews the results. Kidney pathologies negatively affect the course of pregnancy and must be treated and kept under control.

Pathologies of pregnancy

If the fetus develops abnormally, the hCG level may not increase, and the test produces a single line. With ectopic implantation of the fertilized egg, there is a moment when the hormone level will increase (up to 3-4 weeks) and then decrease, and even an electronic test will not show pregnancy. There is no positive result in cases of frozen pregnancy or the threat of spontaneous abortion. In this case, pain in the lower abdomen, spotting, and bleeding may occur for a long time. Any deviations from the norm are a reason to consult a doctor.

Improper storage

A fresh test from a pharmacy shows reliably whether conception has occurred or not. If it was purchased as a reserve and sat at home for several months, the results may be inaccurate. Changes in humidity, temperature, and sunlight have a negative impact on the quality of the test.

You should not purchase tests for the future. A reliable result can only be expected from a new test.

Defective test

Unfortunately, the risk of buying a defective test cannot be ruled out. Manufacturers themselves do not exclude the possibility of defects, describing in the instructions the moments when the result cannot be accepted as reliable (there is not a single strip after testing).

Why doesn't the test show pregnancy? This is possible due to improper storage and transportation of products to the point of sale. It happens that manufacturers skimp on reagents and apply a low-quality indicator to the strip.

A defective test may show one line on both 1 and 5 days after the expected start date of menstruation. However, obvious signs of pregnancy - morning sickness, changes in taste habits, irritability, lack of menstruation - cast doubt on this outcome. You must take the test again after purchasing a product from a different company at a pharmacy. If the result is again negative, you should consult a doctor.

False positive result

A positive test response (two stripes) in the absence of pregnancy is a rather rare occurrence. It can be misleading in the following situations:

• treatment of infertility with hormones, stimulation of ovulation;
• hormone-dependent tumors that produce glycoprotein;
• chorionic carcinoma after hydatidiform mole;
• performing the test almost immediately after abortive cleansing, delivery, or removal of an ectopic pregnancy;
• expired test;
• ignoring instructions.

The following rules for choosing a test will help minimize the risk of errors when determining pregnancy at home:

• check production time and packaging at the time of purchase;
• choose a test from reliable manufacturers - Clearblue, Clever LLC, Salyuta Company LLC and others (more details in the article:);
• do not spare money on the purchase: cheap tests usually do not differ in quality, which is reflected in the result;
• purchase a diagnostic tool at a pharmacy.

Can modern tests make mistakes and give unreliable information? Unfortunately, up to 5% of women face this situation. The electronic test, which clearly detects the level of hCG, is not mistaken. However, it is important that an increase in the concentration of the hormone can be associated not only with conception, but also with pathological diseases in the body. Only an additional examination by a doctor will help give a 100% correct answer.

Special pregnancy tests help determine whether pregnancy has occurred. Although modern tests can often be wrong, they are reliable if the instructions are followed, easy to use, and accessible.

According to experts, the reliability of modern tests is high - 97-99% and they make it possible to find out about pregnancy in the first weeks even before visiting a doctor.

When fertilization occurs, the placenta begins to produce a special hormone - human chorionic gonadotropin or hCG for short. Pregnancy tests work by reacting chemically to this hormone. Already 10 days after fertilization, the hCG level reaches 25 units per mm and continues to double every three days.

The test has an absorbent part with a special substance, which, when hCG is present in a woman’s urine, changes color, resulting in two stripes of red, and in some tests blue. The appearance of two lines is a positive result. If the concentration of this hormone is still low, then the second line may be pale in color.

One strip appears upon contact with any liquid, regardless of the hCG content in it, i.e. if the test shows only one line, the result is negative.

Types of tests

The modern choice of tests to determine pregnancy is quite wide. Tests vary in type, level of sensitivity, rules of use, and price. There are very cheap, but no less popular and high-quality tests, while others are more expensive. Each test has its positive and negative sides. Which one to choose is an individual decision for each woman.

Test strips

The most affordable and popular type of tests. To carry it out, it is enough to lower the test to the indicated strip in the urine for 20-30 seconds.
The result will be known within 5 minutes.

Tablet test

According to women who used the tablet test, it gives a more accurate result compared to the strip test. This is due to the fact that the reagent is reliably protected by a plastic box. Using a special pipette included in the test kit, you need to drop urine into the hole on the tablet test. Within 5 minutes the answer will be known.

Jet test

Its convenience lies in the fact that there is no need to first collect urine in a sterile container. You just need to substitute the test at the moment of urination under a stream of urine, and the result is assessed almost immediately.
Unlike the previous two types, which should be performed during the first morning urination, stream urination can be done at any time of the day.

Electronic test

The principle of its operation is the same as that of others. The tip is immersed in urine for 5 seconds or placed under the stream, then the strip must be laid horizontally and after 3 minutes the “+” that appears indicates pregnancy, and “-” indicates its absence. In addition, digital tests allow you to find out, if the result is positive, the approximate gestational age with an error of two weeks.

The indicator is displayed under the “+” sign. Some models are equipped with additional functions: if the answer is positive, the approximate date of birth is calculated and shown, and if the answer is negative, the most favorable for conception. The hypersensitivity of this type of test allows you to get the result 4 days before the delay. The high price can be attributed to the disadvantages of this type of tests.

How often do tests go wrong?

Even modern highly sensitive tests can show an incorrect result, either positive (2 lines) if there is no pregnancy, or negative (1 line) despite the fact that fertilization has occurred.

Whether a pregnancy test can be wrong and how often this happens depends on many factors:

• whether the storage conditions specified by the manufacturers were observed;
• how accurately the test instructions were followed;
• whether you consumed large amounts of liquid or foods with a high liquid content before the test;
• stale urine;
• hygiene standards were violated during the test;
• There are kidney diseases and increased protein content in the urine.

Despite the high percentage of reliability declared by the manufacturers, the result of home testing is still not 100% reliable.

The test strip most often gives an inaccurate result if it is overexposed or underexposed, and it also requires morning urine.

Plate tests are more accurate because only the tip is immersed in the urine, the urine moves up and reacts with the reagent.

Which tests are most accurate?

It is impossible to say unequivocally which test is the most accurate. One thing is clear - only ultrasound and examination by a specialist can give a 100% guarantee., since the principle of operation of all tests is not based on directly determining pregnancy, but on detecting the content of human chorionic gonadotropin in the urine, and it can be increased for other reasons.

In the early stages, its level in urine is insignificant and insufficient to obtain a reliable result. In the blood, the level of hCG rises faster, so a blood test allows you to determine the presence of pregnancy in the first days after fertilization.

The inkjet test is considered by many users to be the most accurate and convenient. The only requirement is to refrain from urinating for several hours (about 4) for a more reliable result.

The most accurate, according to most, is the “blue” test, which is a stick directly inserted into the vagina. In case of pregnancy, when it comes into contact with the cervix, it turns blue.

How to tell if a test is wrong

Can a pregnancy test be wrong? It’s impossible to say with 100% certainty.. You can determine whether the test was wrong or not by performing repeated procedures with an interval of 2 days. If the procedure is carried out correctly in compliance with all prescribed instructions and a quality test is selected, the likelihood that the test is incorrect is minimal.

If all repeated tests show a negative result, and menstruation still does not occur on time, you need to visit a doctor and have a blood test and ultrasound done. Even if the result is positive, there is no need to postpone a visit to the gynecologist to make sure that there are no pathologies in the development of the embryo.

Reasons for the error

If you suspect pregnancy, regardless of whether the test is positive or not, you should check with your doctor to get a reliable answer.

There are many reasons why a pregnancy test may have a false result:

Why does a false positive result occur?

A false positive response when testing for pregnancy is quite rare and the reasons for the appearance of such a result are as follows:

• conducting a test in the postpartum period or immediately after removal of an ectopic pregnancy, or after an abortion, when the hCG level has not yet dropped;
• if less than 10 days have passed since the last time you took hormonal medications containing human gonadotropin;
• if you have undergone treatment for infertility through hormonal therapy;
• the presence of a tumor in the body that produces hCG;
• poor quality or expired tests;
• violation of test instructions.

Why does a false negative result occur?

Whether a pregnancy test can be wrong, despite the fact that all the signs accompanying pregnancy are present, is of concern especially in anticipation of the long-awaited conception.

The test may give an incorrect result if the test is not timely, it was carried out on the first day, when menstruation did not start, and a test with low sensitivity was used. This result is called a false negative and is much more common than a false positive.

An erroneously negative pregnancy test may be due to one of the following reasons:

Can the test be wrong before the delay?

If you carry out the test at a very early stage, the chance of obtaining a false negative result increases, since the required concentration of hCG in female urine has not yet been achieved and the reagent cannot detect it. However, hypersensitive tests are capable of responding to gonadotropin levels already at a level of 10 units. per ml. Such tests can be used without waiting for the delay to begin.

If conception has taken place, the concentration of hCG by the first day of the delay is already about 50 units/ml, therefore, some modern tests can be carried out before the start of the delay. To be more sure, the test should be repeated after some time.

If a less sensitive test is used before the expected menstruation, the result will be falsely negative. The concentration of gonadotropin in the blood is several times higher than in the urine, therefore, if you need to find out about a possible pregnancy immediately, you need to take a blood test.

Can the test be wrong on days 3, 4, 5, 6?

The accuracy of the test depends largely on when it was taken. The more time has passed since fertilization (it occurs later than the moment of alleged conception), the more accurate the test results.

A sensitive test, if the necessary requirements are met, can quite accurately determine the fact of pregnancy already on the 3rd day of the delay. Such tests respond to hCG concentrations from 10 to 25 units. per 1 ml.

Less sensitive people will not show results until the hormone level reaches 25 units/ml. Gonadotropin reaches its maximum by 2-3 months of pregnancy, after which its level begins to decrease.

How to choose the right pregnancy test

To minimize the likelihood of receiving an erroneous answer to the test, you should:

How to take a pregnancy test correctly

To obtain the most accurate test results, you must adhere to certain recommendations:

How many tests to do for an accurate result?

To get the most accurate answer to an exciting question, you need to do several tests with an interval of 2 or 3 days, and it is desirable that they be from different manufacturers. In this case, you must strictly follow the instructions in the attached instructions and observe all hygiene standards.

How else can you clarify the result?

Can a pregnancy test be wrong? Of course it can! But even if his testimony is in doubt, a woman often feels the life emerging in her by changes in her well-being even before the test.

The main symptoms to suspect pregnancy:

• dizziness;
• heaviness and pain in the lower abdomen;
• nausea;
• temperature rise to 37-37.5 degrees;
• sensitivity to odors;
• change in taste preferences;
• breast enlargement;
• frequent urination;
• drowsiness;
• the appearance of pigment spots.

One of the first symptoms of pregnancy is increased basal temperature. This temperature is measured either orally, in the rectum, or in the vagina.

Before ovulation, the basal temperature is below 37 degrees Celsius; at the time of ovulation and in the second half of the cycle, the temperature rises by 0.4 degrees and returns to normal a couple of days before or on the day of the start of menstruation. If the temperature has not dropped and menstrual bleeding has not started, the likelihood that pregnancy has occurred is high.

There are many traditional methods for determining pregnancy, although they also do not provide a 100% guarantee that conception has occurred.

Using baking soda

Collect urine in a sterile container and add baking soda to it. If the soda foams and sizzles, the answer is no. If soda precipitates at the bottom of the container, the answer is positive - pregnancy has occurred.

Iodine

You need to drop iodine into a container with urine. If the iodine is dissolved, there is no pregnancy.
If the drop lingers on the surface for a few seconds, then conception has occurred.

Feeling the pulse of the abdomen

During pregnancy, the blood supply to the uterus and fallopian tubes increases, and, accordingly, the pulse in the abdomen becomes more frequent and clearly audible. You need to feel it two fingers below the navel.

Taking a pregnancy test yourself is easy. But even the most expensive test can be wrong, although rarely. Therefore, it is hardly worth unconditionally relying on the test result, whatever it may be. To confirm the result, it is recommended to do several tests, follow the deadlines and instructions for use, and not delay your visit to the doctor.

Video on the topic: can a pregnancy test be wrong?

Are pregnancy tests wrong?

How to accurately determine whether pregnancy has occurred:

So are false negative results. It is best to buy several tests from different manufacturers at once and use them several days apart; in addition, if you have the slightest doubt, you should consult a doctor.

The most common reason for a false result is a test done too early. Most modern remedies promise a guaranteed result from the first day of the delay, however, unfortunately, in the first days, tests show the correct result with an eighty percent probability; it is at this time that the probability of getting a false negative result is high, since the concentration of the hCG hormone in the urine at this time can be not high enough yet. To guarantee the correct result, it is better to test four to five days after the delay and in the morning.

Drinking too much fluid in the evening can lower the concentration of hCG in your morning urine, so if you are going to test in the morning, try not to drink too much in the evening.

A false result may be due to poor quality of the test or an expired test. Expired tests or tests that were stored in improper conditions may show completely unexpected results, so it is better to buy such products in trusted pharmacies and from reputable manufacturers.

In some cases, erroneous test readings may be due to improper use, so it is very important to read the instructions carefully and not shorten the waiting time required for the chemical reaction.

Sometimes the test strip may be too pale, in which case you need to use a different test, and you should also read the instructions again, you may have done something wrong.

If you are taking vasoconstrictors or hormonal drugs, diuretics or tranquilizers, this may distort the test results due to “wrong” hormonal levels.

In some cases, the first test may show the presence of pregnancy, and a second test taken a little later may indicate its absence. In such a situation, you should immediately consult a doctor, since such results may be signs of a miscarriage.

note

A false positive result can be obtained in the case of ovarian dysfunction and a number of other diseases of the reproductive system.

An express pregnancy test is not a replacement for a visit to the gynecologist, but it allows a woman to clarify the situation to some extent and clarify what exactly she will go to the doctor with. However, such tests are not always accurate.

A low-quality test or one that has expired cannot give a reliable result. You must be extremely careful when purchasing rapid tests, and you should not skimp on them.

The error may be due to incorrect application of the test. For example, if the strip is not used immediately, but is left in the air for some time, the substance that is applied to it will dry out and the test will become unusable. To avoid such mistakes, you need to carefully follow the instructions on the packaging.

But in some cases, errors in rapid tests are explained by changes in the woman’s body.

Negative result if pregnant

The rapid test reacts to human chorionic gonadotropin. The concentration of this hormone in the urine decreases and becomes insufficient for a positive result if the amount of urine excreted increases. This can happen if the woman has eaten any diuretic foods (such as watermelon) or taken a diuretic drug.

If a woman's cycle is disrupted, ovulation could occur later than usual. In this case, even if it has arrived, it has not yet had time to cause the corresponding hormonal changes by the time the woman notices the delay. If you repeat the test a week later, the result will be positive.

The concentration of human chorionic gonadotropin decreases in some pathological variants of pregnancy: threatened miscarriage, frozen or ectopic pregnancy. Such cases require immediate medical intervention.

Another possible reason for a decrease in the level of gonadotropin in the urine, leading to a test error, is impaired renal function.

Positive result in the absence of pregnancy

The test result is unlikely to be reliable if the woman has recently suffered a miscarriage or abortion. After termination of pregnancy - spontaneous or artificial - the level of human chorionic gonadotropin remains elevated for some time, and the test will react to it.

Some medications used to treat infertility contain this hormone. If a woman takes these medications or takes the test more than two weeks after stopping them, there is a high chance of an error.

There are malignant tumors that are capable of producing human chorionic gonadotropin, for example, uterine chorionepithelioma. The presence of such a tumor also “ensures” a positive test result in the absence of pregnancy.

Whatever the result of a pregnancy test, you should consult a gynecologist, especially if the result is in doubt.

Sources:

• What you need to know about pregnancy tests

I was unable to find information regarding the reliability of pregnancy test results for diabetes. But, in my opinion, it is obvious that if the test is used correctly, it should show a reliable result regardless of whether the woman has diabetes or not. After all, pregnancy is determined by a hormone that has a complex name - human chorionic gonadotropin, and not by sugar. During pregnancy, the female body begins to produce a specific protein - human chorionic gonadotropin, on the detection of which the test is based. This is what is determined by almost all tests - from simple “home” ones to complex laboratory ones.

When an incorrect result may be shown

First, the test may not be performed correctly.

Secondly, it was carried out too early, when the level of hCG is still low (in this case, a false negative result occurs: the test shows the absence of pregnancy, while the woman is pregnant).

It happens that human chorionic gonadotropin is produced by a tumor (a false positive result when the test shows the presence of pregnancy, while the woman is not pregnant).

An incorrect result can also be obtained with dysfunction (impaired functioning) of the ovaries: the production of various sex hormones is disrupted, and the overall picture leads to an erroneous test result.

Taking hormonal drugs can also distort the picture.

“Test strips”, or “strips”, common in Russia, belong to the so-called non-instrumental tests that do not require special equipment. They are divided into three types.

The first includes first generation test strips. They are a paper strip soaked in a reagent. It is immersed in a container with urine for 10-30 seconds. Such tests are relatively cheap because They are easy to make, but it is sometimes difficult to expect accurate results from them. If you keep such a test in too little liquid, the indicator will not be saturated; if you overdo it or accidentally immerse it above the specified mark, an error will also occur. A woman buys such a test for 10-30 rubles, waits for the next morning, does the analysis and waits... Ten minutes of stress. But the result appeared: some kind of blurry, fuzzy line - either there was a pregnancy or not. Or maybe the test doesn't work?

The second type is tablet tests. This test works almost like a school blotter. Like a blotter, the liquid spreads in the first window, reaches the reagent layer and enters into a chemical reaction with it. In the second window - reading the result. This is a completely reliable product, but it costs 100-300 rubles. A type of tablet test is a square with three windows: in one window you need to drop urine with a pipette, in the second window you need to use a control strip, in the third you need to read the result.

About five years ago, tablet systems were common, but now you hardly see them. They have been replaced by more advanced inkjet tests (they look like tablet tests - a plastic stick with windows). They are the most advanced today. Inside such a test system there is a layer of blue particles that will firmly attach to the chorionic hormone in a drop of urine. There is no doubt about the advantages of this type of tests: they are very convenient, they can be used at any time of the day, anywhere - just put the test under a stream of urine and see the result in exactly a minute. Even a small amount of the hormone is enough to determine pregnancy, which means that the test will definitely work. The woman will be relieved of the stress of waiting for the result; she will not have to guess or run to the pharmacy for a new test. The price of such a test in pharmacies is 250-700 rubles.

The sensitivity of home tests sometimes reaches 90-95%, which is comparable to laboratory tests. Many companies value their reputation by using modern technologies and reagents, and today some strips have become more accurate than before and much easier to use. Some tests can show whether you are pregnant as early as the first day after your expected period (about 14 days after fertilization) and within just 2 to 5 minutes - using a urine sample.

Please remember that use of the test is not a substitute for consultation and medical examination by a professional. Over the past 1-2 years, gynecologists around the world have “cooled down” regarding home determination of pregnancy by the woman herself. Increasingly, they recommend that, despite the test result, you see a doctor. Medical examinations after the test are also necessary because there are tests of varying quality. Some are recommended for home use, others for medical practice. The latter are expensive, and besides, they are produced by self-respecting companies with well-established technology. Medical tests, as a rule, are not sold in pharmacies, but are purchased by gynecological consultations and clinics. In most developed Western countries of the world, you will no longer find pregnancy test strips in pharmacies.