Startling findings on early pregnancy tests

[RuthK]

Girls

I'm sure, like me, many of you have taken an early pregnancy test, only to find it came out negative. Sometimes that is the case but many times it is not, but the depression one feels when getting a negative result can really dampen the whole conception process.

Well, here's a bit of hope. I've been reading up on the actual accuracy of early pregnancy tests and recent studies have found that although these early tests claim that they are 99% accurate, in fact the accuracy rate of testing prior to the first day of your missed period is only between 33-50%, despite how sensitive the test claims to be. This 99% figure is based on laboratory testing, where they already knew the woman was pregnant (had been verified with a blood test) or when they were testing with a synthetic form of HcG.

In other words, we are more likely to get a false negative if testing prior to our period than an actual negative. The reasons cited for this were the varying times of implantation and subsequent production of HcG and of the varying levels of HcG themselves.

Having read all this I vow now that I'm never going test until the first day of a missed period, as I'm sick of feeling depondent before I actually have to.

Good luck
R

[Michele Crocker]

Hi,

I know that sometimes these pregnancy tests can be wrong. With my first child I did a few tests around the time I was due and they all came back negative. I went to the doctors and they did a urine sample. This also came back negative. By this time I was emotional and didn't know what was wrong with me. I had missed two periods by then. My doctor spoke to a endocrinologist and they suggested that I have a blood test done because my doctor said that my hormonal level was too high. They did a blood test and finally I got my answer I was pregnant. I was three months pregnant by the time I found out.

Michele
Mother of Christopher, Luke, Melissa, Jayden and ?(due in November)

[bleemum]

:rolleyes: Every month even though I know it's stupid I wind up doing a test a week before my period is due, I can't help myself. The crazy thing is that even when it shows up negative I then try making myself feel better by self talking and reminding myself that it's probably too early to test yet.

Why do we do these things to our selves ????? I've been doing this for a few years now.


Bec

[tread]

That's pretty interesting. I know back in my single days I was pretty impressed with the accuracy of home tests...never had a false positive or negative, but then again I only ever tested on the day I was due. When my husband and I started "trying" I knew a week before I missed my period that I was pregnant, but held off until the actually day I was due to do a home test -that was HARD! I did 2 x home tests and both returned a positive result. I then went to the Doctor that afternoon to get it confirmed and to arrange a formal referral to my OB, but the Doctor's test came back negative. He told me that home tests weren't as accurate as the tests Doctors use, and that they often return a false positive. He then told me to come back 3 days later, and charged me another $70- for a visit and test...which was then positive. Guess how impressed I was?

[Taylor & Lachlans Mummy]

It is all dependent on your HcG levels. With my fist pregancy I discovered I was preggers via an early pregnancy test at 5weeks, but was told by the dr to retest at 8weeks then to go in & get a blood test done just to be sure as it was such an early positive.
How ever my HcG levels didnt change until I was 4mths with my second. Blood tests, urine tests & ultrasounds didnt show anything. He was just hiding & subjected me to being a pin cushion as I was being tested 2 times a week as we couldnt work out what was wrong as I was still getting a period.
The drs tests are exactly the same as the ones we buy from the chemists & woolies just a different shape. They are no better as we used about 1/2 a dozen with no result.
As my dr said everyones levels change at different times so the best way to test is via a blood test after your first missed period. But to all those trying to concive & getting all those negatives keep your chin up it will be a big fat positive one day.

[yummmmy_mummy]

i just had a thought and i thought i should share my thought as it was an interesting thought (now that ive completely confused you ill tell u)

when i thought i was pregnant i got a test from woolies as im sure most of us have i did the test it came up positive but i said my then boyfriend now husband that i wanted to do another test to be sure but he said no well just go to the doctor as we didnt have much money at the time and couldnt afford to buy another one so off i went to the doctor and i explained to him that id down a pregnancy test it had been positive but i just wanted to double check he asked me when my last period had been wich i didnt know exactly as im really bad at remembering things like but i told him about when and all he done was wirte it down and said yes ur pregnant ull have to start booking appointments at the hospital he didnt even do another test :eek: so i didnt actually know for sure until i was in hospital really sick and had to have an ultrasound and i was pregnant but what if i hadnt been what if there was something else wrong with me and got seriously sick because he didnt do another pregnancy test

well that was my thought i just thought someone might like to know and the moral of the story is always ask ur doctor to double check for u

[crackermum]

Thanks for your posts ladies, I'm currently using IVF and had an embryo transfer a couple of weeks ago. According to my calculations I should have had my period last Thursday, today is now Tuesday.. I've done a couple of test which both came up negative, the latest being on Sunday morning, so I can't work out why I haven't had my period yet?? If your information is correct, this pregancy may have low HCG levels, so I'm still hopeful that it can still be a pregnancy - and not early menopause!!! Fingers crossed, as every day goes passed the more likely a positive result, thanks!

[RoarsomeMum]

so off i went to the doctor and i explained to him that id down a pregnancy test it had been positive but i just wanted to double check
but what if i hadnt been what if there was something else wrong with me and got seriously sick because he didnt do another pregnancy test


The majority of Dr's will not re-test after a positive HPT. They are considered to be VERY accurate after you have missed your period.. and false +'s (though they indeed happen, are almost unheard of. )

[bakubaby]

just thought i'd share my experience....
i did a First Response HPT that came back positive about 6 days before my period was due.
this brand is apparently known to be very accurate.
my GP did another urine test when i went to see her...about 3 days before period due...it also came back positive, albeit a faint line :-)
i guess my point is that sometimes HPT can be very accurate, even before a missed period!

[NonnyMouse]

Well I must say it's not exactly strartling new findings. The claims regarding accuracy are clearly printed on the leaflet that comes in the pack, i.e. that the "up to 99% accuracy" claim is as per laboratory testing, and that factors such as dilute urine, testing too early etc can affect the accuracy and give false negative results.

[TripleTime]

5 year old thread ;)

[Gloria454]

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