Pregnancy tests can be nerve-wracking and exciting at the same time. On the test, the small strips can occasionally be confusing, particularly if you’re seeing them for the first time. It will be easier for you to interpret your results if you know what these strips represent and how they look.
Typically, pregnancy test strips have two lines: one for the test result and one for the control. Every line has a distinct function and can provide you with important details regarding the status of your pregnancy. You can increase your confidence in your comprehension of your test results by becoming familiar with each line’s meaning and how to interpret it.
We’ll go over the various kinds of strips you might come across in this guide, along with an explanation of what a positive or negative outcome looks like. This information will make it easier for you to read your home pregnancy test, regardless of whether you’re using one for the first time or just need a refresher.
| Number of Strips | Interpretation |
| One strip | Not pregnant |
| Two strips | Pregnant |
| No visible strips | Test invalid, try again |
- Principle of operation
- Probability of errors
- How to improve accuracy?
- Video on the topic
- In what cases the pregnancy test is false positive?
- When to make a pregnancy test to get the most accurate result.
- I AM PREGNANT? Pregnancy test how and when to do? Second strip on the test?
- How long will the test show pregnancy?
- Pregnancy test | False result | Pregnancy test errors | The reasons for this and their decision
- Evitest One & Plus – How to use test strips to determine pregnancy
- Pregnancy test. The reagent from the positive to the negative.
Principle of operation
The appearance of the coveted second strip on the test is not accidental. This is a consequence of a whole chain of patterns. First of all, you need to understand how home pregnancy tests work. Whichever test you buy – an expensive electronic one or a cheap strip – they will operate according to the same principle. In any type of device there is always a zone that comes into contact with liquid – urine. It is called the working zone, and is divided into two parts. In one, manufacturers apply a base layer that shows a strip upon any contact with liquid (almost any). This is the control zone and the control strip. It is needed so that a woman can be sure that the test is working properly, suitable for use. These are digital tests that blink and signal if a failure occurs and the device cannot work correctly. Ordinary and such popular strips are not capable of this.
As a result, the strip in the control zone functions as a kind of performance report for the test.
The test zone is the second area. As a matter of fact, this is the main idea. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone that grows quickly in the early stages, can be isolated from urine by manufacturers using a specific chemical reagent applied to this zone. Prior to being measured in the urine, this substance’s level starts to rise in the blood. Following the embryo’s successful implantation, the first release of hCG into the blood plasma happens within hours. From then on, the concentration of hCG rises like a snowball, nearly twice as much every two days.
Implantation occurs on the 6-9th day after conception, it lasts up to 40 hours. The fertilized egg is attached to the endometrium by villi, which connect to the blood vessels of the female body. And it is through these vessels that the blood is saturated with hCG, the villi are the structures of the chorion. This hormone is necessary to maintain the production of progesterone by the corpus luteum. If there is no hCG support, the pregnancy will not be able to develop. The corpus luteum will die, progesterone will decrease, and menstruation will come on time or almost on time. Thus, the test allows you to detect traces of the desired hormonal substance in the urine, indicating the development of a new life in the female womb. If the level of chorionic gonadotropin in the fluid secreted by the kidneys is high, the test shows a second strip, if not, it does not show. There are no three stripes on test systems – the working area is divided into only two parts.
Probability of errors
Even the most sophisticated, costly, and accurate testing systems occasionally produce false positives. As a result, while the accuracy claimed by their manufacturers in their advertisements is obviously not very high, the test can still be trusted—especially if you follow all the instructions exactly and on time. First, find out about test system characteristics like sensitivity threshold. The sensitivity threshold should be regarded as the primary feature, and it is indicated on the packaging. Occasionally it is noticeable, and other times it is in small letters away from the name.
Extremely sensitive systems exist. Their sensitivity ranges from 5 to 10 mIU/ml. Given its high threshold of perception, the device can potentially provide a completely reliable result even before the delay, as it can identify chorionic gonadotropin signs earlier than other methods.
At this threshold, a lot of strip strips are made, along with cassette and jet tests.
Some products are just very sensitive. They range from 15 to 20 units per milliliter as their threshold. Additionally, a second strip in 1-2 or from the first day of the delay may be visible in such tests. The most popular class of test systems are medium-sensitive tests (25–30 units), which can readily assist in addressing pregnancy-related queries once a delay has begun.
The most frequent cause of incorrect results is overdiagnosis, which occurs when there is insufficient strength and patience to wait. The correctness of the diagnostics, adherence to the usage guidelines, and the caliber of the test systems themselves can all have an impact on accuracy. Occasionally, results from two separate tests will differ. Assuming that every requirement for testing by a woman is satisfied, the likelihood of receiving an incorrect result is generally estimated at roughly 5 percent. Keep this in mind and compare the test results using additional, more precise techniques.
How to improve accuracy?
The test results will be more accurate the closer the date is to the day on which the female calendar indicates the next period. It is preferable to perform diagnostics after the onset of menstrual delay in order to lower the possibility of error. Make sure you keep an eye on the system’s expiration date. Few people are aware of the maximum service life of the reagent used to separate hCG molecules from other urine constituents, even though it is not typically customary to look at it on tests. The reagent loses its chemical properties if the test is too old.
It is preferable to purchase the test from the pharmacy rather than taking it at the grocery store checkout since the systems there are kept improperly. Nor should you pursue the price. It doesn’t really matter which test will detect the desired substance; the less expensive ones are just as good as the more expensive ones, particularly when there has been a delay and there is a high concentration of hCG in the urine. Use the urine sample from the morning for the test. Since it is the most concentrated and densest, the hormonal substance will be found in it more quickly. There is no need for particular preparation (general or hygienic) for testing.
Compliance with the instructions ensures the desired outcome. The strips shouldn’t be submerged in the liquid for an extended period of time or for too long. To ensure that your hands don’t shake and the urine from the pipette enters the intended diagnostic window, cassette tests should be performed in a calm setting. Electronic devices should not have moisture on their internal components while they are in use.
The accuracy of one’s self-diagnosis directly affects reliability.
Correctly interpreting the results of a pregnancy test requires an understanding of how the test strips appear. When there is just one line in the control window, the test is successful but the outcome is unfavorable. The test is positive and you are probably pregnant if two lines show up, one in the test window and one in the control window.
The second line may appear faint at times. If the pregnancy is still early and the hCG hormone levels are lower, this could happen. It’s a good idea to retest in a few days to get a more definitive result in such cases.
Recall that when instructions are followed precisely, test results are more reliable. A healthcare professional can confirm the results and offer additional guidance if you’re unsure or the test result is unclear.
Strips are used in pregnancy tests to display results in an easy-to-understand manner. A test line indicates pregnancy, while a control line verifies the test’s functionality. It will be easier for you to decide whether or not you are expecting if you know how these lines look and how to read them. You will be guided through the visual cues and the meaning of each outcome by this guide.
