When it comes to determining whether or not you are pregnant, a test that provides accurate results as quickly as possible is high on many people’s priority lists. But what is the best type of test for detecting early pregnancy?
There are many different types of pregnancy tests, but they all test for the same thing – the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in either blood or urine.
How pregnancy tests work
Quick refresher if you’re new to the world of pregnancy – hCG is a pregnancy hormone that begins to appear after a fertilized egg implants in the uterus, usually 12-15 days after ovulation (assuming you have a 28 day cycle ). At about 10 days after ovulation, if an egg has been fertilized and you are indeed pregnant, hCG levels will be around 12mIU/mL – a value that several tests should consistently pick up.
Urine pregnancy tests labeled ‘early results’ detect lower amounts of hCG than others, allowing them to provide accurate pregnancy test results at the earliest possible time. That said, many people report passing a wide range of tests, regardless of their classification.
Here are some of the most popular tests for detecting early pregnancy:
Most of these (besides lab tests with your care provider) are home pregnancy test kits. This is your standard stick, cassette, or dip strip and pee operation that is usually used a few days before your expected period or after a missed period. Some are more sensitive than others, and all of them will probably leave you with a little pee on your fingers.
According to a NYT study, they were able to detect 10 mIU/mL of hCG 100% of the time and 6 mIU/mL of hCG 50% of the time. There are options for digital and analog tests depending on how much you want to play “is that a line?” game.
These urine dip strips come in a pack that allows you to first track ovulation, then test for a subsequent pregnancy. This one detects pregnancy when hCG levels are at least 25mIU/mL.
If you want test strips (rather than individual plastic pregnancy tests like Clearblue or First Response), these are another option. They also detect hCG around the 25mIU/mL mark but are relatively cheap.
A stick test that detects around 10mIU/mL and uses pink dye, which many readers feel is less likely to give false results compared to blue dye tests.
Dollar Store Pregnancy Tests
Inexpensive and accurate enough to be mentioned many times by our readers, they are usually sticks or cassettes into which you pipette a few drops of urine. The levels of hCG it can detect vary depending on the brand, but they are all regulated by the FDA and can be trusted to provide accurate results.
Laboratory testing
Performed by your health care professional, these tests may be a urine test or a blood test. Both will measure hCG and are very accurate. Depending on your care provider, you may do one or both if pregnancy is suspected (or they are trying to avoid it). Sometimes a blood test is done as a confirmation if you received a positive result in a home test or even a negative result that is thought to be inaccurate due to pregnancy symptoms such as a missed period or nausea and fatigue.
But the most surprising pregnancy test on the list…your pet!
Then question to our FB followers what is the best test for detecting early pregnancy, many respondents said their pets. Cats are the most common response, but there is plenty of anecdotal evidence that dogs are just as capable.
People report a change in behavior, such as being pushy about lying on their laps or suddenly being very protective of them, as ways they know something is different. Why? With all the hormonal changes going on in your body, it’s thought that animals pick up on subtle changes in scent, but at this point, it’s all speculation. (Got a story about your pet that makes you want to add another mammal to the mix? Share it in the comments!)
So what is the best test for detecting early pregnancy?
First Response Early Results and the Clearblue Early Detection Pregnancy Test there is a minimum threshold for detecting hCG, but people report success in different ways. It really comes down to what fits your budget and what you are comfortable using.
Be sure to follow the instructions so you don’t end up on an emotional rollercoaster thanks to a false negative or an evap line masquerading as a positive result. What’s your go-to pregnancy test? Let us know in the comments below!
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