can at home pregnancy tests give false negatives?
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It's possible to get a negative result from a home pregnancy test when you're actually pregnant. This is known as a false-negative.
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It's possible to get a negative result from a home pregnancy test when you're actually pregnant.
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In fact false negatives – where the pregnancy test says you're not pregnant but you actually are – are more common than false positives. However, it's also important to say that this shouldn't give you false hope. A negative pregnancy test is still most likely to mean you're not pregnant.
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Yes, it is possible. Getting a negative result doesn't mean you're not pregnant, it may just mean your hCG levels are not high enough for the test to detect the hormone in your urine.
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You might get a false-negative pregnancy test for other reasons. Some at-home pregnancy tests aren't as sensitive to hCG as others. Or you may take a test too early. It takes time for the hCG hormone to appear in your urine.
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According to most manufacturers, at-home pregnancy tests are about 99 percent effective when used as instructed. That's about the same accuracy rate as most urine pregnancy tests performed in a doctor's office. Blood tests also can determine if a woman is pregnant.
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However, negative results are less reliable. For example, if you do a pregnancy test too early, you could be pregnant, but there may not be enough HCG in your body to give a positive test result. Pregnancy tests vary in their sensitivity (how soon they can detect HCG and what level of HCG needs to be present).
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If you think you may be pregnant, you can take an at-home pregnancy test. These tests aren't 100 percent reliable, especially early in your pregnancy. Your doctor can also perform a blood test or ultrasound to confirm a pregnancy.
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Test Errors A false negative can also happen due to test error. If you wait too long to read the results, you may get a false negative. That said, false positives are more common with reading a test too late. Make sure you follow the directions of your particular pregnancy test.
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Is the hCG blood test always accurate? No test is 100 percent accurate every time. The hCG test can give both false-negative results and false-positive results for pregnancy.
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If you follow directions, home pregnancy tests are an estimated 97% to 99% accurate. Yet if you get a negative result and suspect you're pregnant, check the instructions on the box. Home pregnancy tests typically recommend retaking the test 5 to 7 days later, when the hCG levels in your body will be higher.
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Over-the-counter urine tests are simply not as reliable or as detailed as hCG tests. While it isn't common, home tests can easily produce false-positive results and false-negative results.
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Your Guide to Pregnancy Tests. According to most manufacturers, at-home pregnancy tests are about 99 percent effective when used as instructed. That's about the same accuracy rate as most urine pregnancy tests performed in a doctor's office. Blood tests also can determine if a woman is pregnant.
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The hCG shot helps follicles release mature eggs. It may cause a false-positive reading on an at-home pregnancy test, particularly if the test is taken too early.
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As with urine/home pregnancy tests, it is possible to end up with false results (both negative and positive) from a blood pregnancy test.
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Home pregnancy tests are accurate as long as you follow the instructions correctly. A positive test result is almost certainly correct. However, a negative test result is less reliable.
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A very rare cause of a false negative is if the hCG hormone in your body doesn't react with the anti-hCG chemicals in the pregnancy test. If this is the problem, you may need to wait a few more days before you can get a positive result. Or, you may need to have a blood test.