Pregnancy tests are a very convenient thing that saves a woman from the need to consult a gynecologist for the most insignificant reasons: it is enough to carry out a preliminary diagnosis at home, and it is already clear whether additional examinations are needed further and whether there is any need to worry about the delay. What are the best pregnancy tests and how to use them correctly? Let's try to find out.

What is a pregnancy test

Regardless of the design and features, any pregnancy test is associated with a woman’s urine analysis. Why is urine an indicator of whether a woman is pregnant or not?

The urine of any representative of the fair sex constantly contains the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin. In an organism that does not bear a child, the level of the hormone does not exceed 5 MIU/ml. However, everything changes if the woman’s egg is fertilized, has already attached to the wall of the uterus and begins to be covered by the placenta. Then the hCG level rises sharply to 25 MIU/ml.

Similar indicators can be observed already on the 7th day of pregnancy. However, not every test can detect hCG fluctuations at such an early stage. We will look at which pregnancy tests are best to use in certain cases a little later.

How the test works

What are the best pregnancy tests? Perhaps it depends on the duration of pregnancy and many other factors. But no matter what test a woman gets her hands on, it will work on the same principle.

Any test is equipped with a reagent that produces antibodies to the hCG hormone. As soon as the urine of the owner of the test hits its surface, the reagent is triggered, and a strip is shown, which can be light pink or bright red. This is the first sign of pregnancy.

But any test also has a control zone. And you can draw conclusions only if a strip appears in the control zone. Two lines in any test is a positive answer to the question: “Am I pregnant?”

Pregnancy test - which is better? Test strips

Test strips are the most “ancient” method of determining pregnancy and the cheapest. It is very primitive in terms of the design of the test system itself and is easy to operate. That is why test strips remain leaders in demand in pharmacies and stores.

How does the test strip work? A woman should immerse a strip purchased at a pharmacy in a container with urine for only 10 seconds. This will be enough for the reagent to do its job. The test strip will give a final result after three minutes.

What are the best pregnancy tests if you don't have much money and there aren't many pharmacies nearby? Test strips will come in handy in such cases. But they are able to detect pregnancy only if the delay has already occurred; in the early stages, this diagnostic method is practically useless.

Pregnancy test - which is better? Tablet test

The tablet test is a more advanced method of diagnosing pregnancy than the previous one. If only because it is very sensitive to hCG levels. So, which pregnancy test is better in the early stages? Right! Tablet test.

How to use such a test? It comes with a special pipette, which you need to collect urine and apply just a couple of drops to a special window located on the tablet.

What happens next? The liquid completely saturates the fabric, which is hidden inside the tablet. On this fabric there is the same strip that should become an indicator of the result. This strip is impregnated with the reagent. If the hCG level is high, the woman knows that she is pregnant.

The tablet test is intricately designed, but produces more accurate results. That is why it will cost its owner some money: on average 150-250 rubles.

Inkjet tests

Which test is best to determine pregnancy if you want to get a reliable result? If you need reliable information, you should give preference to third-generation diagnostic methods: inkjet tests.

Their appearance is well known to every woman who likes to watch melodramas or youth comedies related to pregnancy. Because these are the tests that heroines of various films love to use.

There is a certain logic in this, because today there is no more mobile and convenient tool than the inkjet test. To get the result, you don’t need to collect urine with a pipette, you don’t need to pour it into a clean vessel, just direct the stream to the “receiving” part and after a minute look at the result window.

This type of test is one of the most expensive because it produces results with 100% accuracy. If you answer the question of which pregnancy test is better before a delay, then, undoubtedly, these will be inkjet tests. The sensitivity of such a device to hCG exceeds even the sensitivity of tablet tests, so you can completely rely on them.

Test systems with reservoir

It is impossible to say for sure which is the best pregnancy test. For example, many women prefer test systems equipped with a reservoir.

They work on the same principle as other test systems. It’s just that if in a tablet test you need to collect liquid with a pipette, and test strips need to be lowered into a vessel with urine, then the manufacturers of these test systems have already equipped the device with a reservoir to which an indicator is attached. The indicator, impregnated with the reagent, independently absorbs liquid in the quantities required, and then gives the result.

Test systems with a reservoir are not the most convenient, but they are much easier to use than, for example, conventional test strips. And the price is quite reasonable. So this diagnostic method remains quite popular among female representatives.

How to choose?

A woman who has never encountered pregnancy tests asks the usual questions: what is the best sensitivity of a pregnancy test, which test system is more reliable?

When you purchase a test in a store, you would like to know the exact results so as not to make useless trips to the doctor and not worry about it in vain. Therefore, it would be more logical to spend money once on a latest generation test system, for example, an inkjet, than to then waste time confirming the results of a cheap pregnancy test.

If we talk about manufacturer names, then each country and region has its own range of products, and there is no point in giving advice here. However, when purchasing a test system, you need to pay attention to the packaging so that it is not damaged, so that there are instructions in a language you understand and be sure to have any contact information for the manufacturer.

How to use it correctly?

We figured out which test is best to determine pregnancy. Now it’s worth talking about an equally important point - the rules for using tests.

Whatever test system a woman purchases, you should pay attention to the instructions before use. The general principle of operation of test systems does not mean that their method of application is also common. The differences may be in small details, but these are the ones that affect the final result.

In principle, you can take a pregnancy test at any time of the day. However, in the morning the results will be more accurate, because it is in the morning that the concentration of hCG in the urine is highest.

Before using the test, you must stop taking diuretics and excessive fluid intake.

How to read the results

On any test, one or two lines should appear as a result of passing it. The first stripe is called the “control” stripe. After liquid gets on it, it becomes bright pink or bright red. The “control” strip is necessary so that the owner of the purchased test can make sure that it basically works, is not expired, and its results can be relied on. If after use only one line appears on the test, it means that the test is working properly and the woman herself is not pregnant. If not a single line appears on the test, it means either the test is damaged or it was used incorrectly.

If two bright pink or red stripes appear on the test, it means its owner is pregnant. Moreover, these stripes are not always the same shade. If the period is too short, the test strip may be lighter than the control strip.

However, do not consider the test result positive if the test line turns white. This means that too much liquid has come into contact with the reagent. If it does not turn pink or red after this, then there is no pregnancy.

How to avoid mistakes during application?

It is important not only to know which is the best pregnancy test to take, but also to avoid mistakes when using the test system.

Everything must be done only according to the instructions. For example, test strips are not intended for use under running liquid; you should not even try to find out about your pregnancy in this way. In this regard, jet tests are more “flexible”: they can be used either under a stream or placed in a container with urine.

The timing over which you evaluate results also matters. If the instructions say that the result will appear in three minutes, then it is at this time that you need to look at the results window. If you evaluate the results obtained, say, after 15 minutes, then they will no longer be valid. On some tests, after this time, a second strip may appear on its own, and this means absolutely nothing.

How often do tests lie?

What pregnancy tests are best to use? Which ones “lie” more often?

Any test, even the most expensive one, can show incorrect diagnostic results for many reasons.

False negative results can be produced by a test that was stored incorrectly, was rejected, or placed in a container with stale urine. Cheap tests with low-quality reagents will not detect pregnancy in the early stages. In case of problematic and ectopic pregnancy, tests are also sometimes powerless. Or the last reason is kidney problems, due to which the urine of a pregnant woman contains little hCG.

The issuance of false positive results can be affected by a woman taking hormonal drugs that contain hCG. A hormone-producing tumor can also cause positive pregnancy tests.

If a woman is not sure of the result shown by the test, then she should look for additional signs of pregnancy or immediately go to the doctor for an appointment.

What should you do if the test is positive?

It would seem that the answer to the question of what to do if the test turns out to be positive suggests itself: go to the doctor and confirm this fact. However, many women prefer to postpone visiting the doctor indefinitely. It’s just not worth doing this.

Even if the expectant mother is convinced through a test and a combination of other signs that she is pregnant, an examination by a gynecologist must be carried out urgently. If, for example, the pregnancy is ectopic, then the woman’s health is at risk. The development of the fetus not in the uterus, but in the fallopian tube does not bode well and is fraught with many complications.

In order not to come to your senses too late and not to miss such an important process as pregnancy, it is necessary to monitor the menstrual cycle, especially if a woman has regular sex life, and be sure to take a good pregnancy test if unprotected sexual intercourse occurs.

Before the invention of pregnancy tests, humanity resorted to various methods of guessing the onset of the gestational period. Original pregnancy tests were carried out by wetting grain with female urine, mixing urine with wine, changing the characteristics of biological fluid under the influence of various additives, and also injecting it into a certain type of frog. Thus, it was believed that when pregnancy occurs, grains of wheat or barley, watered with urine, germinate faster, which helped not only to diagnose a successful conception, but also to predict the gender of the child. A repetition of a similar test in the 70s of the 20th century showed a 70% effectiveness of the method for determining pregnancy.

A modern pregnancy test makes it possible to determine with a high probability the beginning of a new life without lengthy experiments with various compositions and grains. The variety of rapid diagnostic tests, however, requires knowing when to take a pregnancy test, how to interpret the result, and which tests are best to use.

Despite the modernization of diagnostic methods, the material for testing remains the same as in the Middle Ages. Urine contains human chorionic gonadotropin, the same hormone whose concentration is assessed when diagnosing pregnancy using a blood test.

In venous blood, the hCG hormone begins to be detected 2-3 days after the chorionic villi begin to penetrate the walls of the uterus. Human chorionic gonadotropin reaches a concentration sufficient for most tests in the excreted urine approximately a week after the start of the process of its production in the body.

If there is a concentration of hCG in the urine sufficient for the level of sensitivity of the test, a reaction of the chemical on the surface of the test and the hormone occurs. In the absence of the hormone or its insufficient concentration, the reaction does not occur, and the result is negative.

The average sensitivity of tests on the market is 25 mUI; hCG usually reaches this level two weeks after fertilization. Existing tests with higher sensitivity, reacting to smaller amounts of the hormone, diagnose its appearance 3-4 days earlier.

When can I use the test during a regular menstrual cycle?

If the menstrual cycle is regular and has a constant number of days between the onset of bleeding, then calculating the date of ovulation is easy. The middle of the cycle (with a standard menstrual cycle of 28 days - on the 14th day) the egg is released.
Fertilization of an egg is possible within three days, its life cycle. After the process of fusion of the egg and sperm for 4-5 days, the germ cells migrate through the uterus to the placentation site, after which the production of hCG begins. Assuming fertilization within 2 days, 4 days of migration and the time necessary to achieve the desired level of concentration in the urine of the hormone, highly sensitive tests are able to show the onset of pregnancy 10 days after ovulation, that is, with an average cycle of 28 days - on the 24th day of the cycle . For greater confidence, experts recommend using a highly sensitive test on the 12th day after the release of the egg from the ovary, and tests of ordinary sensitivity - after 15-16 days.

Diagnosis of pregnancy with irregular cycles

If the menstrual cycle is not regular, the duration of the periods between menstruation varies, then the time to use the test depends on the date of ovulation.
Ovulation can be determined by subjective sensations (some women feel characteristic tingling in the area of ​​one of the ovaries, a feeling of fullness, swelling, changes in sensitivity, mood), as well as by measuring rectal temperature and using an ovulation test. To determine the onset of ovulation and possible fertilization, a pregnancy test is used 15 days after the due date.

Morning is wiser than evening: when is the best time to take a test?

Most modern test strips do not limit the diagnostic period to any time of day: they can be used in the morning, afternoon, and night. However, experts, taking into account the possibility of a natural decrease in the concentration of hCG after drinking a large amount of liquid, recommend resorting to diagnosis in the morning, using the first portion of urine after a night's sleep, especially if the probable stage of pregnancy is short.

During the day, when fluid enters the body, the concentration of the hormone decreases. For periods more than 18 days after ovulation, this factor is not decisive, but the timing of ovulation also does not always coincide with the expected one. For accurate indicators, it is better to follow the recommendations of specialists, and in a situation where the test needs to be carried out during the day or evening, the optimal diagnosis would be after four hours of abstaining from going to the toilet and limiting the consumption of liquid products to maintain the level of hCG concentration.

Rules for using rapid tests

• It is necessary to follow the test storage rules provided by the manufacturer.
• Using the test in damaged packaging may distort diagnostic results.
• The package is opened immediately before diagnostics.
• Using an expired test will result in incorrect results.
• The optimal time for the test is in the morning, immediately after a night's sleep.
• If the test is not a jet test, urine collection requires the use of a clean container.
• It is recommended to carry out hygienic procedures including washing the external genitalia before testing.
• Strictly follow the instructions for use.

Pregnancy test: instructions for use

There are different types of rapid tests. Instructions for each type are attached to the test; violation of the rules of use most often results in the appearance of incorrect indicators.

When diagnosing pregnancy, the test is used within the time frame specified by the manufacturer. If testing is recommended from the first days of the delay, then there is a possibility that the sensitivity of the reagent or individual characteristics, the timing of conception will allow pregnancy to be detected earlier than the specified period, but most often an accurate result is possible only on the indicated days of the cycle.

The cost of the test most often directly correlates with its reliability: the lower the price, the lower the production cost and the cheaper the chemical reagent, respectively, the higher the number of incorrect results. The most common tests on the market today are four modifications; each type has its own characteristics and instructions for use. Some manufacturers produce different types of tests under a single brand (Evitest or Evitest, Frautest, etc.); when purchasing, you need to pay attention to the variety.

Test strip or strip test

The strip test is one of the first options for diagnosing pregnancy, a test for independent use and quick interpretation of the results. The most common and cheapest option (for example, Itest Plus is offered at a price of 20 rubles).
A paper-plastic strip with an additional inner layer impregnated with reagents becomes colored in one or two places upon contact with urine. One strip confirms the effectiveness of the test, two indicate the presence of a sufficient concentration of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin to confirm pregnancy.

Directions for use: collect the first morning urine in a clean container, lower the test to the limit indicated on the strip, hold it in the liquid for the required time (usually 20-30 seconds), remove it and place it on a dry horizontal surface.

Diagnostic results appear within a period of 1 to 10 minutes, depending on the concentration of the hormone. Some tests can also change the degree of color of the control strip - the paler the color, the shorter the gestational age.

Tablet type tests

Tablet tests are based on the same operating principle as strip tests: when a certain part of the surface comes into contact with urine, a chemical reaction occurs between the reagent and the hCG hormone. To reduce the likelihood of error, the volume of liquid is dosed, and the contact point is limited by a special window.
According to the instructions, you need to collect urine in the included clean container, then use the pipette included in the kit to dose 4 drops into the small window of the test tablet. The results are evaluated in the following window: depending on the variety, one or two stripes or a minus and a plus appear.

Inkjet tests

This variety is considered one of the most accurate and sensitive, and also does not require additional devices or manipulations. The test strip is placed under stream of urine for 10 seconds (if necessary, you can use a container and immerse the test in the urine).
Results are to be assessed at intervals of 1 to 10 minutes, depending on the concentration of the hormone. Unlike the above options, jet tests can be used 5 days before the expected date of menstruation.

Digital pregnancy test

Electronic modification of conventional options. The test evaluates the concentration of the hCG hormone and requires immersion in urine, but the result (depending on the type of test) is displayed either on an electronic mini-display or appears on the computer screen to which the test is connected via a USB port.
This option is considered the most optimal due to the impossibility of distorting the interpretation of the results. However, the sensitivity of digital tests is the same as that of inkjet tests: they can be used 3-4 days before the expected date of menstruation. When tested 2 days before the start of your period, 99% accuracy is guaranteed.

Negative test result in developing pregnancy

In most cases, tests show a negative result in pregnant women if tests with low sensitivity are used too early, or instructions for use or storage are not followed. A negative result is also possible due to late ovulation and late conception - in such cases, hormonal levels change more slowly than expected in accordance with the menstrual cycle.

Diseases of the endocrine system and hormonal imbalances also lead to negative test results. The threat of miscarriage is characterized by an increase in the level of the hCG hormone that is inappropriate for the gestational age, which, accordingly, leads to one line on the test at a time when the hCG concentration should be sufficient for two.

It is worth knowing that during pregnancy, tests can only be used in the first trimester. The concentration of hCG is not maintained during the period of waiting for the child, which leads to incidents: if tests are carried out for a period of more than 2-3 months, the result will be negative.

False Positives

Positive test results in non-pregnant women are much less common than the opposite situation and in most cases indicate the presence of diseases (ovarian dysfunction, the formation of a tumor in the reproductive organs that produces hormones, etc.). False-positive diagnostic results are also observed in the first two months of the postpartum period and when using an expired test.

Testing during menstruation

In some women, pregnancy is accompanied by menstrual-like discharge, similar in abundance, timing and symptoms to normal menstruation. As a rule, the discharge ends in the first trimester, but there are known cases of its manifestations throughout the entire gestation period. In such situations, it is recommended to resort to diagnosis using a blood test, but the use of tests is also possible.
Any test is based on assessing the concentration of the hormone in the urine and the presence of menstrual fluid in it does not affect the effectiveness of the tests.

If the test results are in doubt

Sometimes it is not easy to interpret the results of express diagnostics: the second indicator strip is slightly marked, visible from the inside of the test. Sometimes this happens due to poor quality production of cheap paper test strips: when wet, the reagent becomes slightly more noticeable than when dry.
A visible but pale second line most often indicates a low level of hCG, insufficient for the sensitivity of the test. In this case, it is better to postpone the check for 1-2 days or use a more highly sensitive option.

A strip with an insufficient degree of color may also appear as a result of improper storage of the test or violation of the instructions. In any case, repeat testing and/or blood testing for hCG is recommended.

Ectopic or non-developing pregnancy

The test results for an ectopic and/or non-developing pregnancy are also positive: on the days of expected menstruation, the presence of a second line on the test is most often noted. But the hormone level does not increase in such conditions; upon repeated testing, the pregnancy indicator strip may turn pale or not appear, which requires immediate consultation with a doctor.

When menstruation is late, many women immediately tune in to pregnancy and look for its symptoms and signs. However, often to confirm this, you have to turn to tests. How do you know which pregnancy test is the most accurate?

Principle of operation

Determination of pregnancy becomes possible due to the increased level of human chorionic gonadotropin in the blood. Its production begins some time after the sperm penetrates the egg. This is what makes it possible to confirm pregnancy from the first days of alleged conception. In order to determine the result as reliably as possible, you need to understand what kind of pregnancy tests there are.

Strip strips

The most common and popular way to confirm women’s guesses:

• They can be used from the first day after possible fertilization or on the 2-3rd day of delay. The reliability of the result is 94-95%.
• A clear advantage of this type of testing is that they are easy to buy, inexpensive and available in pharmacies and supermarkets.
• To carry out the test, you just need to collect your first morning urine in a clean container, immerse the strip in it for 10 seconds, and then wait five minutes.

Although these early pregnancy tests are quite popular, there are some disadvantages to using them. So, the result may not always be reliable. If you keep the strip in the liquid long enough, the test will give an incorrect result.

Compared to others, its sensitivity is very low. Despite some shortcomings, this test can still provide accurate results in early pregnancy.

Jet

An inkjet pregnancy test in the early stages firmly ranks second in frequency of use.

Here are the main positive aspects of its use:

• Using this type of test, you can determine with 97% accuracy the presence of a fertilized egg in the female body:
• They work accurately due to the presence of a special layer of particles on the strip that react with hCG.
• The advantages include ease of use. There is no need to look for an empty and clean container; you just need to place the strip under a stream of urine and wait the time specified in the instructions. It can also be carried out not only at home, but also, for example, in a cafe.

Tablet

Today they are the most accurate and allow you to quickly determine the beginning of a joyful period in a woman’s life:

• The testing procedure is simple: use a special pipette (which is sold along with the test) to apply 4 drops of urine to the window on the strip. Next you need to wait a few minutes. During this time, the test liquid is distributed over the surface and reacts with a special substance.
• The limits of sensitivity range from 10 to 25 mU/ml. This makes it possible to determine even the minimal presence of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin in the urine.

The disadvantages of this type of testing include the fact that you still need to collect urine somewhere in order to drop it into the window. They are also very expensive, although the results are completely worth it.

In addition to all the tests listed above, there are also digital diagnostic methods. They even allow you to determine the duration of pregnancy (one, two or three weeks). In addition, they are more reliable, according to reviews.

And yet, which pregnancy tests are better? Of course, digital and tablet.

Best tests

Despite the fact that there are many products offered to determine pregnancy, not all tests are reliable. But, there are the best pregnancy tests that have been tested by many women.

The most effective tests:

1. Evitest Proof. The earliest tablet test that is inexpensive and gives accurate results. Easy to use, the kit includes a pipette and detailed instructions. Testing can be carried out from the first day of the delay.
2. Frautest Express. This pregnancy test is ultra-sensitive. According to the manufacturer, it can be used two days before a possible delay in menstruation. The procedure is usual: collect urine, lower the strip for ten seconds and check the result after five minutes. The cost is not very high, and the result is reliable in almost 99% of cases. As the name suggests, this diagnostic accessory allows for rapid testing.
3. Clearblue Digital. The most accurate pregnancy test available today. The disadvantage is its high cost, but if we talk about accuracy, it is very high. This is exactly the type of test that shows not only the result, but also the period (in weeks). It is also worth noting that with this test there is no need to guess whether the strip is sufficiently colored and whether its color matches the control one. Instead of all this, “+” or “-” marks will appear in a special window. The instructions for the test are very detailed, so you can easily carry it out at home.
4. Frautest Planning. A product from a Hungarian company, which is produced in the form of a set: 5 strips for determining ovulation, 7 jars for collecting urine and 2 tests. This configuration makes it very convenient and economical. The cost, of course, is also high, but justified.
5. Evitest Proof. The best pregnancy test (tablet), which is easy to use and allows you to find out the result with an accuracy of up to 95%. It is worth noting that it can also be used as early as 3–5 days after the expected onset of pregnancy. Also a big plus is the low price.
6. Premium Diagnostics. An early pregnancy test, which makes it possible to find out already on the 2nd day whether fertilization has occurred. The average price makes it quite attractive to buyers. It is also worth noting that it has a control window that shows the correct execution. Therefore, you will not need to compare the colors of the indicator strips. Another big plus is that it can be used either as a stream or in a container for collecting urine, whichever is more convenient for you.
7. Lady Test. Perhaps the cheapest pregnancy test, and yet quite reliable. Disadvantages include low sensitivity.

Determining for yourself which is the best test to purchase can sometimes be difficult. When choosing, it is best to focus on ease of use, accuracy promised by the manufacturer, and reviews from other customers. Therefore, both cheap and expensive tests can be used.

When should you take the test?

It happens that a woman really wants a child, but is afraid to buy tests so as not to be disappointed. In this case, you can listen to the signals that the body gives to be more confident:

• Frequent mood changes.
• Increased sleepiness.
• Change of taste preferences.
• Morning sickness.
• Delayed menstrual flow.

You may also experience breast tenderness or pain, and possibly frequent urination. The presence of one or more symptoms may indicate possible fertilization, so it’s time to think about which good pregnancy test to choose.

In some cases, the results are negative, but the woman still feels that a new life is emerging in her. This can happen for a number of reasons:

• Incorrect procedure (too little time to soak the strip and reduced waiting time for the result).
• The gestational age is too short (this does not apply to ultra-sensitive tests).
• Low concentration of hCG (for example, if a woman drank a lot of liquid before the test).

Sometimes it can be quite difficult to understand which pregnancy test to choose, because at the pharmacy your eyes run wide from their variety.

Having the slightest idea about the principle of action of products whose effectiveness has been confirmed, you can choose the best option for yourself.

A pregnancy test is the fastest and easiest procedure that allows you to determine pregnancy in the early stages, even before the delay.

Today, there are many types of pregnancy tests with varying degrees of sensitivity. This article will answer questions about what types of pregnancy tests there are, what is their accuracy and reliability, which pregnancy test is better to choose and what is the likelihood of error.

Online pregnancy test

Pregnancy cannot be diagnosed based on nonspecific symptoms and dubious signs that occur in the early stages (nausea, breast engorgement, etc.). Moreover, not a single online pregnancy test can reliably answer your question “am I pregnant?”

An online pregnancy test is nothing more than fortune telling with a simple set of questions. These online tests are based on the first signs of pregnancy, and the results of a pregnancy test are very indicative. And the absence or presence of any signs cannot indicate either the presence or absence of pregnancy. A pregnancy test is widely used to determine the exact presence of pregnancy.

If you have suspicions or doubts, then do not waste your time answering the questions of an online pregnancy test, because when there is a question about a possible pregnancy, regardless of what result a woman expects, positive or negative, she only hopes for a reliable answer.

Ladies who suspect an interesting situation often wonder what the most accurate pregnancy test is. These are convenient devices for confirming pregnancy at home, allowing you to establish the fact of an accomplished conception without contacting an obstetrician-gynecologist. This is a fairly truthful technique that helps a woman decide whether she should worry about menstrual delays or whether she needs to contact a consultation to register.

Any product to detect pregnancy examines a urine sample, because it contains the pregnancy hormone - hCG, if the patient is pregnant. This hormonal substance is produced by the chorion membrane formed after fertilization. An increase in hCG begins about a week after conception, but not every test device is able to detect hormonal fluctuations at such an early stage.

It is difficult to say which pregnancy test is better to choose, because a lot depends on the gestation period and other factors. Although the principle of operation comes down to one mechanism - the detection of hCG. Any rapid test has a component containing a reagent that produces antibodies to human chorionic gonadotropin. When a pregnant woman’s urine hits the working surface of the test, a corresponding reaction occurs and a bright red or pinkish strip appears, indicating pregnancy.

Also, any device is equipped with a control zone, where a line must appear. If there are two stripes, then the testing showed a positive result, proving the fact of conception.

Types of test instruments

How to choose a pregnancy test? Manufacturers offer many varieties of home remedies for testing.

1. Test strips are the first generation of strips that are considered the cheapest. This option is quite easy to use and has a primitive diagnostic system. This is why women often choose strip tests to confirm the fact of conception. The strip needs to be dipped into a bowl with urine up to the mark indicated on the test and held for about 10-20 seconds. Such a short period of time is enough for a reaction to occur. After another three minutes, the result appears. Which pregnancy tests are better to choose if you don’t have a lot of money? Strip tests would be ideal. Such strips can detect pregnancy from the first day of delay. In the early stages they are useless because they have low sensitivity.
2. Tablets are a more modern method of detecting pregnancy, which has increased hypersensitivity to the hCG hormone. Therefore, experts call the tablet version among the best pregnancy tests. The product package includes a urine pipette. Then the biomaterial is dripped onto a special window of the tablet test. When the urine is absorbed, a reaction will occur, depending on which the result will appear. The tablet express test device is more intricate, but the results are reliable. Such a test will cost much more than a strip test - 150-280 rubles.

Other types

A more modern option for home testing is an inkjet device. Such products are distinguished by reliable results and almost never make mistakes. The jet test is extremely convenient to use; a woman does not need to collect urine in a bowl or pipette to conduct the study. You need to place the product under the stream while urinating, and after 60 seconds, look at the results in a special test window. This is the best pregnancy test in terms of reliability, because it shows the most accurate results. The sensitivity to hCG of inkjet tests is slightly higher than that of tablet tests, so they can be used at the earliest stages, but they are expensive.

Test systems. Many women consider test systems equipped with a reservoir to be the best. This product is a tank with a special indicator. Urine is placed in the reservoir, the indicator absorbs it, and then gives the result. Test systems cannot be called convenient enough, but they are much easier to use than conventional strip tests. And their cost is lower than that of inkjet or tablet test models.

Electronic-digital. This is the latest generation of pregnancy detection products. Among them there are also reusable models that not only completely report pregnancy, but also help determine the exact date of birth of the baby.

Which is better

The pharmaceutical market is replete with various tests, so it is sometimes quite difficult for a woman to make a choice. Which pregnancy tests have the most accurate results? Of course, those who have the greatest sensitivity. Among both domestic and foreign tests there are worthy representatives with fairly high reliability. Every woman who suspects she is pregnant wants to purchase a high-quality and reliable product so as not to doubt the results obtained. How to choose among such a variety? Let's try to figure it out.

Russian test products for detecting pregnancy are required to be registered with the State Control of Medicines and Medical Equipment. Russian brands are not particularly popular and are often inferior to their foreign counterparts in hCG sensitivity and quality characteristics. Among our brands today, the most popular strip tests are Be Sure, Tablet-type Biocard, HCG-ICA-Recipi and HCG-ICA-Vera strips, Vera-Plus inkjet device, HCG-ICA-Eax and Bee-sure-s.

Among foreign products for the express diagnosis of pregnancy, the most famous brands are Frautest, Evitest, Clearblue, etc. We will consider each of the tests in more detail below.

Brief overview of popular tests

Which pregnancy test to choose from all the variety offered is a rather problematic question. When you purchase a test, you want to immediately get a reliable result, so as not to be nervous in vain and not to make useless trips to the antenatal clinic. It is better to immediately purchase a high-quality modern test and not waste time on unreliable and low-quality products. As for manufacturers, there are enough of them, many of them deserve a high opinion

Frautest Express

Ultrasensitive strip test with hypersensitivity from 15 mMKU/ml. The manufacturer assures that you can use the test without waiting for a delay. The test can determine the fact of conception a couple of days before the expected delay. The results are known within 3-5 minutes after removing the strip from the urine, in which you need to keep the strip for 10 seconds. For some women, this is not entirely convenient, especially if testing is not carried out at home.

But still, Frautest is in quite high demand, because it can show the correct result in an early pregnancy test. According to statistics, the reliability of the results reaches 99%. And the cost of such a test is relatively small. Experts consider it one of the best tests.

Clearblue Digital

Let’s say right away that tests of this brand are quite expensive, their price is about 500 rubles. But the price is justified by the fairly high quality. It is safe to say that Kleablu is the best test that few can compare with. The percentage of accuracy with which the test determines the fact of completed fertilization reaches more than 99%.

In addition, Clearblue Digital, in addition to the presence or absence of pregnancy, shows its duration. The format of the displayed indicators may look like 1-2, 2-3 or 3+. The accuracy of gestational age indicators is 92%. It is usually recommended to carry out testing on the first day of the delay, but if you don’t want to wait, then it can be done as early as four days before the start of the expected menstruation.

But it is not so important for all women to know the gestational age from the test, because the mother will still have to undergo examination and ultrasound examination when registering with the LCD. But sometimes it happens that menstruation occurs during an existing pregnancy. This is where the test’s ability to determine the period from the moment of conception can come in handy. In general, the test deserves praise, but it has a kind of drawback - high cost.

Evitest Proof

This is a tablet-type test, which has high reliability of results. This is the most reliable test for determining pregnancy, at least one of the most accurate. And the purity of the results obtained is beyond doubt. The window into which you need to instill urine cannot be touched or dirty, so nothing can affect the results. A few drops of urine are applied with a special pipette to the surface in the window, where the diagnostic result soon appears.

If we talk about the reliability of the results, then Evitest is a good product with many positive reviews. Its reliability rate reaches more than 99%, which makes it attractive to women.

Lady Test

A fairly cheap product that is convenient to store even in a wallet. The sensitivity of the test is slightly lower and starts at 20 mIU/ml. Therefore, in the early stages of pregnancy, determining the presence of pregnancy can be quite difficult, especially if the woman drank a lot of liquid the day before. The cheapness of the product on the one hand and not particularly reliable on the other, which can force a woman to conduct a whole series of tests, makes Lady Test not particularly attractive. But overall the product is quite reliable.

Premium Diagnostics

A jet test that is recommended for any woman who needs a quick and reliable result. The accuracy of the indicators reaches 99%, provided that the study is carried out on the first day of the delay or later. Overall, this is an excellent test for determining pregnancy, which is convenient to use both at home and in less comfortable conditions. The relatively low price and high reliability make it very attractive in the eyes of many women.

According to statistics, the Frautest, Clearble and Be confident tests are considered the most truthful.

When to do research

If the sensitivity of the test is 15 mIU/ml, it can be done no earlier than 2-3 days before the expected onset of menstruation, although it all depends on the exact timing of conception and the time of attachment of the fertilized egg to the uterine endometrium. Therefore, sometimes it can happen that a woman takes a test a week before the expected start of menstruation, and the test shows that she is pregnant. This is due to the fact that the woman ovulated earlier, and therefore conception also occurred earlier. Therefore, sometimes women mistakenly believe that the test was able to determine the fact of pregnancy at a very early stage.

How to do testing correctly

The main priority in testing, or, more precisely, in choosing a rapid test, is its sensitivity. Tests with a sensitivity index of 25 mIU/ml will show a reliable result only 13-15 days after fertilization. Therefore, accurate results can be obtained after 2 weeks from the date of ovulation. Many people are concerned about what sensitivity is preferable so that the result is as reliable as possible. Experts say that it is better to opt for products that have a sensitivity index of 10 m IU/ml. These tests can establish the fact of pregnancy from the 8-9th day of conception.

Whatever rapid test a woman uses, be sure to read the instructions. Although their operating principle is identical, the nuances of application may differ slightly, which as a result may affect the reliability of the data obtained. Testing can be done at any time, but it is best to schedule it in the early morning when human chorionic gonadotropin levels are highest. The main thing is to avoid taking diuretics and drinking too much.

Also, when testing, it is necessary to read the results correctly. At least one strip must appear on the test - a control one, which indicates the functionality of the product and indicates the operation of the express test. If the test shows one line, then the woman is not pregnant, and if two lines appear, then the result is positive. If after the diagnostic procedure more than one band does not appear, then the test is expired or faulty.

If the result is positive, there will be two stripes, but it is not at all necessary that they are the same. The shade of the second band depends on the concentration of hCG in the woman’s urine. The shorter the period, the dimmer the second line on the test product will be.

Are errors possible?

So, you have decided on the choice of an express test, now you need to clarify that sometimes the test results can be erroneous.

• If a faint stripe appears on the product, this may indicate pregnancy.
• Sometimes the dull color of the strip indicates a weak concentration of human chorionic gonadotropin.
• But sometimes it happens that the test shows a positive result in the absence of conception. This is quite possible if the girl has taken certain medications or has tumor pathologies.
• It also happens that testing gives a negative result, while pregnancy actually exists.
• False-negative results occur in several cases, for example, with kidney pathologies, with heavy drinking.
• If an express test shows no pregnancy, and you are experiencing all the signs of pregnancy, then you should definitely contact the LCD.
• It is worth consulting with a doctor which tests should be purchased if you suspect conception. It will also be useful to find out what can affect the test results.

False positive statistics

We have seen that there are many rapid tests for determining pregnancy with different price indicators. But a high price does not always indicate high reliability of the results. The statistics are such that not only cheap tests, but also expensive ones are wrong. A survey was conducted among women regarding which tests gave them false results. Women noted that most often false positive or false negative results were observed when testing with products from the brands Bee-Sure, Evitest, Vera, Eva-test, L-test, BB test.

Even if testing shows no pregnancy, but signs of an interesting position are visible on the face, it is imperative to undergo a gynecological examination.