Show
What to Expect selects products based on real-life testing conducted by staff, contributors and members our user community, as well as independent research and expert feedback; learn more about our review process. Prices and details are accurate as of the published date. We may earn commissions from shopping links. Best Pregnancy Tests
Whether you’re actively trying to conceive or wondering if your missed period could mean something more, waiting to find out if you’re pregnant can be a hopeful, anxious or exciting time — and maybe a combination of all three. That’s when you’ll want a reliable, easy-to-decipher pregnancy test. Found everywhere from drugstores to the internet, pregnancy tests are over-the-counter indicator sticks or test strips that use urine to detect levels of a key pregnancy hormone. Naturally, you'll want to find one that's not only reliable, but also easy to decipher. Here’s everything you need to know about how pregnancy tests work and how to find the best one for you. How do pregnancy tests work?Home pregnancy tests all work the same way: by measuring the amount of the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in your urine. To take a pregnancy test, you either pee directly on a stick or pee into a cup that you then dip a stick or strip into. Then, after a few nail-biting minutes, you’ll have your results. Some tests may have different instructions or wait times, so it’s important to follow the directions exactly to make sure you get the most accurate reading. This is especially important when it comes to interpreting the result. For example, you always want to read your results within the window specified in the instructions. "As the paper and urine sample dry, the lines tend to smear and people can think they are pregnant," says Jennifer Roelands, M.D., OB/GYN and the founder of Well Woman MD in Yorba Linda, California. Types of pregnancy testsAlthough home pregnancy tests work the same way, their features can differ. The main types of pregnancy tests include:
Some pregnancy tests are packaged as a stick that you pee on directly, saving you the effort of peeing into a cup, dipping the test into that cup and then cleaning it (although if you prefer this method, many stick tests can also work this way). These can be digital or non-digital. Pregnancy strips, on the other hand, usually need to be dipped into a cup of urine. A third, less common type involves using an eyedropper to take urine from a cup and then drop it into the test’s reservoir. How accurate are pregnancy tests?Pregnancy test results are much more accurate if taken once you've missed your period, with most brands estimating about 99 percent accuracy. If you take a test before then, the range might only be around 70 to 75 percent, or even lower in some cases. False positives are rare, but according to Dr. Roelands, some factors that may cause one include testing too early, fertility mediciations that contain hCG or miscarriage. It's also important to note that a chemical pregnancy (which is when an egg implants in the uterine wall but isn't able to develop) or an ectopic pregnancy (when the egg develops outside the uterus) may also lead to positive tests, even if the pregnancy isn't viable. Again, false positives are unusual, but to be absolutely certain, you should schedule an appointment with your OB/GYN following a positive at-home pregnancy test for confirmation. What to look for when choosing a pregnancy testKeep these things in mind when you’re shopping for a home pregnancy test:
When is the best time to take a pregnancy test?If you've been trying to conceive, you might feel the urge to start testing before you've missed your period, especially if you're tracking your fertility and seeing promising signals. But Dr. Roelands suggests taking a pause and waiting until you've actually missed your period. If your cycle isn’t regular or you don’t get periods at all, take a test three weeks after possible conception for the most accurate results. "The accuracy of the test becomes 99 percent once you have passed the day of your missed period,” Dr. Roelands explains. While some tests say they can work as early as 10 days after unprotected sex, the results aren't very reliable and may not be accurate. "It is better to wait so you do not get discouraged about the results," says Dr. Roelands. You might also be wondering what time of day is best for a pregnancy test. Dr. Roelands suggests right after you wake up, as your urine will be most concentrated at this time and the hCG levels will be easiest to detect. You might want to try taking the test before you've had anything to drink, but don't freak out if you forgot and had some water or coffee first. "Consuming a large quantity of water can dilute the sample, but don't stress if you had some water before your test,” says Dr. Roelands. “It is very sensitive to pick up hCG and a glass of water will not ruin the result.” What if I've missed my period but the pregnancy test is still negative?If your pregnancy test comes back negative, wait a few days and take another one. "Don't pee on six tests in a row," Dr. Roelands says. If you're still testing negative a few days into your missed period, contact your provider about scheduling a blood test to see if you’re pregnant. "If you haven't had your period by day 35 and the blood test is negative, then it's negative and you didn't ovulate that month," she says. How we chose the best pregnancy testsWith Dr. Roelands' tips in mind, we scoured through recommendations from the millions of moms in the What to Expect community to find which pregnancy tests worked best for the largest number of people. We also made sure to pay attention to online reviews of each test to read about other users’ experiences. Here are our picks for the best home pregnancy tests, including digital tests, early detection tests and more. Best Pregnancy Test OverallFirst Response Early Result Pregnancy TestPros: Easy-to-hold handle, high rate of early reliability, EasyRead App converts your pregnancy test lines into the words Cons: Lines can be hard to read sometimes Why We Love It With results that claim to be as accurate three days before your missed period as on the day you miss it (99 percent, to be specific), this early response pregnancy test is made for anyone who hates waiting (and who doesn't?!). Even those who took the test five days before their expected period had results in the 76 percent-accurate range, according to the brand’s tests. There’s a helpful indicator next to the result window that reminds you two lines means pregnant and one line means not pregnant. You can also scan your test using the brand’s free Easy Read app, which instantly converts test lines into “Pregnant” or “Not Pregnant” for that extra vote of confidence. (That said, app users note that the technology could be improved.) This early pregnancy test also gets bonus points for its curved handle — in other words, it's easy to use without getting pee on your hands. Tests per package: Two or three Display method: One or two lines or Easy Read app Result time: Three minutes Community Reviews "First Response are definitely the best for early testing, far more reliable than any blue tests" - c2021l Best Digital Pregnancy TestClearblue Digital Pregnancy Test with Smart CountdownPros: Flashing countdown, clear digital message, results stay up for 6 months Cons: On the expensive side Why We Love It Anyone who has spent hours trying to decipher a reading will appreciate the peace of mind this digital pregnancy test offers. In addition to a countdown that assures you the test is working, this award-winning Clearblue digital pregnancy test clearly displays “Pregnant” or “Not pregnant” in the results window — no ambiguity here. The test claims to be 75 percent accurate four days before your expected period, but if cost is a concern, wait until the day before your expected period or the day of, when those numbers jump to 99 percent accurate. Moms-to-be who want to surprise their partner or loved ones with the big news by showing them the stick will be happy to learn that the results remain on display for six months (many other brands’ disappear in a day). Tests per package: Two to five Display method: Digital text Result time: Three minutes Community Reviews "clear blue always said pregnant when I was actually pregnant." - cnh418 Quickest Pregnancy TestFirst Response Rapid Result Pregnancy TestPros: One-minute results, EasyRead App converts your pregnancy test lines into the words Cons: Can’t test early Why We Love It It's been an agonizing couple of weeks since ovulation, and you don’t want to wait one more second to find out if you have a bun in the oven. If this sounds familiar, you'll want to pick up a First Response Rapid Result pregnancy test, which displays your results in just 60 seconds. The test, which is 99 percent accurate starting on the first day of your missed period, uses enhanced technology to isolate and detect high levels of HCG, giving you results at warped speed. The potential downside to this, however, is that you can’t take the test before your missed period. Tests per package: Two Display method: One or two lines or Easy Read app Result time: One minute Easiest Home Pregnancy TestClearblue Rapid Detection Pregnancy TestPros: Indicator changes color to show it's working, easy to read, curved stick for easy holding Cons: Less accurate before a missed period Why We Love It There’s no second guessing whether you used Clearblue’s rapid test correctly. As soon as you pee on the extra-wide tip, it will change from white to pink to show that testing is in progress. The results will show as. The results will show as a plus sign (pregnant) or minus sign (not pregnant) often in under one minute, but definitely within three. This pregnancy test is 56 percent accurate four days before your missed period, and increases in accuracy every day before reaching 99 percent accuracy the day of your expected period. The ergonomic shape of the stick makes it a bit easier to hold as well, and the cap is also nice and big. Tests per package: One to three Display method: Plus sign or single line Result time: One to three minutes Best Pregnancy Test StripsWondfo Pregnancy Test StripsPros: Portable, more affordable than others Cons: Dip method may bother some Why We Love It If you’re the type who likes to test, immediately re-test to make sure, and maybe even test again the next day, just in case, then you’ll love these pregnancy test strips. You get the same 99 percent accuracy rate on the first day of your expected period that many pricier tests offer, and, with 25 strips in a pack, a lot more opportunities to test. What you won’t get? A stick or wand to keep urine off your hands (which might bother you if you’re more squeamish) or super-fast results: Once you dip a strip into a cup of urine, lay it flat to dry, then wait 3 to 5 minutes. If a second line appears, you’ve got a positive result. Tests per package: 25 strips Display method: One or two lines Result time: Three to five minutes Community Reviews "Love this brand! I used them for three years while TTC our daughter. They were cheap and always accurate for me, and I loved seeing the line progress when I finally got my positive." - babynoonan Best Cheap Pregnancy TestEquate First Signal One-Step Pregnancy TestPros: More affordable compared to others, result may come quickly Cons: Urine must be transferred with dropper, result shouldn’t be read after 10 minutes Why We Love It This pregnancy test gets rave reviews from moms in the What to Expect community for being accurate and much more affordable than its competitors. The main downside is that you'll need to provide your own clean catch cup, and then transfer your urine to the indicator with the supplied dropper. But if you prefer to take pregnancy tests often, you certainly can't beat the price, which is less than a dollar per test at the time of publication. As with other tests, the company pledges 99 percent accuracy. Tests per package: One Display method: One or two lines Result time: One to three minutes Community Reviews "The 88 cent ones from Walmart are accurate as well, that’s how I found out I was pregnant at 3 weeks." - alex3975 “I'm pregnant and the walmart test was the first to show me.” - Ajb5111 Best Eco-Friendly Pregnancy TestNatalist Pregnancy TestsPros: Company has plastic-neutral pledge, clear instructions Cons: On the pricey side, results take up to five minutes Why We Love It Founded and run mostly by moms, Natalist has set itself apart by creating what's currently the only plastic-neutral pregnancy test. That means that for every test you purchase, they pledge to remove the same amount of plastic waste from the environment. The test itself is the straightforward pee-on-a-stick variety, and it's supposed to be 77 percent accurate starting five days before your period is due, and jumps to greater than 99 percent accuracy up to three days before. The instructions are clearly written and easy to understand, and the chic line drawings sprinkled throughout add a bit of flair. Tests per package: Four Display method: One or two lines Result time: Five minutes Community Reviews "I also like the Natalist tests. They are not as sensitive as FRER, but more sensitive than many on the market." - Secondbreakfast14
How does a negative pregnancy test look clear blue?It does not matter if one of the lines that make up the '+' symbol is lighter or darker than the other; the result is 'Pregnant'. For your result to be 'Not Pregnant' (negative) there must be a blue line in the control window and a '-' (minus) symbol in the result window within 10 minutes of performing the test.
What does a positive pregnancy test look like on clear blue?If you see a positive line, you're pregnant
Some pregnancy tests, like the Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test, will give you a clear answer in words like 'Pregnant' or 'Not Pregnant', however, many tests will show two lines if you're pregnant.
What does an evaporation line look like on a clear blue test?An evaporation line is a slight streak that appears where the positive line on a pregnancy test should be. Evaporation lines are colorless streaks, not faint lines. They typically appear if a person waits for longer than the suggested time to read the test result.
Can you get a negative clear blue test?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.
|