Can a pregnancy test be wrong? 5 random errors

Greetings to all our readers!

A woman planning a baby looks forward to a missed period, which may signal successful fertilization. Many people are simply itching to use a pregnancy test even before this moment. What if he shows the coveted two stripes even earlier?

And when nothing like this happens, girls wonder whether the electronic pregnancy test could be wrong or whether the pregnancy symptoms that they feel are fictitious due to a strong desire to become a mother?! Devices can indeed be faulty due to defects or mechanical damage at the time of purchase.

Or, on the contrary, a false result becomes a consequence of incorrect use of the test. These points need to be sorted out in advance so as not to worry in vain and to create healthy conditions for the implantation of the embryo in the uterus.

If the test is negative and you are pregnant

The test is false negative if the urine collected for the test is too dilute. An interesting fact is that

If you drink 2-3 glasses of water in the evening, visit the toilet a couple of times at night, and take a test in the morning, the result is false.

To make the result accurate:

take a pregnancy test in the morning, immediately after waking up
do not forget to wash yourself before collecting urine
don't rush to take the test

The urine that accumulates in the body overnight has a high concentration of the hormone hCG, which is responsible for a positive test result, so the test recommendation is to perform the test immediately after waking up. Be sure to follow hygiene procedures - wash yourself before collecting urine. Since vaginal mucus or any other discharge may affect the result.

Taking a pregnancy test too quickly can lead to a false result. You must wait before performing it.

Probability of error: causes of false negative and false positive results

Are electronic tests wrong? Yes, this happens. And even the high price paid for a pregnancy test will not provide a 100% guarantee of obtaining the correct result, since the most expensive and popular digital devices initially carry a 1% false diagnosis rate.

Test strips are inexpensive, but unlike electronic options, they can show false data in 2-5% of cases. What factors can affect the test results?

So, a false negative result can be a consequence of:

premature completion of the procedure - when an insufficient level of the hCG hormone has been developed in the woman’s body;
using non-morning urine;
the presence of kidney pathology;
complications of conception - the embryo has attached outside the uterus or there is a threat of termination of pregnancy;
the day before you drank a lot of liquid or took diuretics;
deterioration or malfunction of the test itself.

Even when they receive the desired “plus sign” on the device’s screen, girls still worry whether the test can make mistakes and give a false positive result, showing 2 stripes or a “plus” sign, depending on the model of the device.

This also happens if:

took medications containing gonadotropin;
there are neoplasms in the body that produce hCG;
in the last cycle there was a miscarriage, abortion or surgery to remove an ectopic embryo.

If the test shows a negative result, but the delay exceeds 10 days, you need to be checked at the hospital and take a blood test for hCG. If the answer is positive, you should also appear at the clinic to check whether the fertilized egg is properly attached.

If before the delay the test showed the coveted “plus”, and after a couple of days a “minus” appeared on the screen, most likely a spontaneous miscarriage occurred when the egg was released with menstruation due to weak attachment. This is observed in 30% of cases. Many girls may not even be aware of their situation or what happened.

Types of pregnancy tests

All pregnancy tests are divided into:

strip - you need to collect urine in a container and dip the strip into it
tablet (cassette) - analogous to strips placed in a plastic container. Place a few drops of urine in one of the windows using a pipette (included in the kit)
stream tests - they are equipped with a pen and a special tip that must be placed under its flow during urination
digital - a certain end is placed under the stream or in a container with urine for 5 seconds. The strip is equipped with a color indicator

The result becomes noticeable within a few minutes. You can read the instructions for performing a certain type of test in the inserts.

pregnancy test wrong

There is a high probability that you will die alone and everyone will turn away from you. Your loved ones will be embarrassed to meet you and disdain to touch you. Alas and ah, this is the mentality of our illiterate redneck and cruel aborigines. It is in this matter that the Russians behave immorally, aloofly and are not far from the aborigines. We got what we deserved. HIV epidemic. More than 1%.

My family and I are healthy. I know this for sure. Now. And in 2014, I was in hospital with my second child. The manager called me and told me that I had a positive HIV test. (as it turned out to be wrong). I didn’t know about it then. The manager said that it was necessary to retake the AIDS test at the center and strongly recommended not to tell my husband. Indeed, why should the person with whom you are sleeping and expecting a child know about such a trifle as the likelihood of HIV?

A minute later I was already talking on the phone with my husband. He quickly found information (thanks to Google) that erroneous analysis happens quite often in pregnant women. That same evening, out of fear, we donated blood in a number of private clinics.

The next day I repeated the same procedure at the AIDS center for free. The employees of this center are very adequate people, they calmed me down. There were two other men sitting with me in the office. These men were already infected with HIV. We were received in one office because of renovations that were taking place on the 2nd floor of the building. One was a drug addict, the other had no bad habits. One could not name the number of sexual partners, the second had 5! Only 5, not 50!!! Only 5 women!!! A completely normal person, a normal lifestyle, nothing shocking. - sick...

The analysis was done for a week. This has been a very long week of my life….

A week later we received confirmation that we were healthy from private centers, and the government center also called and said that everything was fine. On that interesting day, I had in my hands an extract from the hospital which indicated a positive test and two negative tests. With the same feet, I went to the antenatal clinic to finally register. The name of the consultation, by the way, is “Hope”. The nurse looked at my documents and went to the reception desk and loudly announced, “Imagine, they sent an AIDS patient.” ...

The corridor of pregnant women looked at me disapprovingly, their eyes read a silent “Rot in HELL!” and fear...

I was invited to the office of the head of this institution, after which I finally received a doctor’s examination. But I was denied registration at my place of residence and registration.

I registered with another state consultation, where there was more sane management and medical staff. staff. HIV tests in this and subsequent pregnancies were negative. I am a healthy woman who suffered human neglect because of one erroneous result.

What do really sick people experience? How do they treat them??? How will they treat you? I have about 700 friends in my account. This means, according to statistics, about 7 of them are sick... Maybe you? Has it been a while since you checked?

I'm embarrassed to admit it, but we are truly evil and ignorant.

Just because you communicate with a person, hug, say hello, you will not get sick.

About

When to take a pregnancy test

It takes 6 days for the egg to move into the uterus, so do not take the test a few hours after intercourse. To ensure the accuracy of the result, do not go to the toilet three hours before the test.

The principle of operation of an electronic pregnancy test: a brief description of the device

An electronic or digital test detects hCG, the human chorionic gonadotropin hormone. It is produced in the female body from the moment the embryo attaches to the uterus. The hormone is present in the blood in large doses, but to detect it it is necessary to conduct special studies in the laboratory.

And only thanks to the fact that scientists identified the presence of hCG in the urine of women, it became possible to determine the onset of pregnancy independently at home. An electronic test helps you find out the answer early. This is considered to be the most effective and reliable method.

Digital tests are highly sensitive and can detect the hormone in a woman’s body when its concentration is 25 mUI of hCG, which is not very high. After urine hits the device’s display, within 3-5 minutes a “plus” or “minus” sign will appear on the screen, which indicates, respectively, the occurrence or absence of fertilization.

Some types of tests can even determine the amount of the hormone in a pregnant woman's blood. Such a device shows weeks, that is, the duration of pregnancy. Although the electronic test is accurate, it can also fail. And there are reasons for this.

Can pregnancy tests be wrong: reviews

Women who have conducted similar research more than once in their lives say that electronic tests are the least likely to make mistakes. There are no stripes on them that should appear. After reacting with urine, you get a result that lasts throughout the day. The display shows a clear answer to the question whether there is pregnancy or not.

Inkjet tests are also quite accurate, but reviews indicate that they are inferior to electronic tests on several points. Many inkjet tests have high sensitivity. Thus, to obtain a positive result, a woman’s urine must have a high concentration of hCG. In the early stages this is impossible. That is why representatives of the fair sex purchase standard strips, which have a lower sensitivity and, as a result, can give an erroneous result.

Do testing correctly. Always read the instructions before handling.

Pregnancy test errors

The test is the first “beacon” of our pregnancy. Many people look with anticipation, and many with caution, at the barely visible lines on the pregnancy test. But could he be wrong? An equally exciting topic for both those who are afraid of an unwanted pregnancy and those who are waiting for the stork to arrive.

Express tests for determining pregnancy in the post-Soviet space became especially popular about 15 years ago. At the dawn of their “success,” they cost a lot of money and could not be found in every pharmacy. It’s different now - they are at the checkout counters in supermarkets, they can be purchased at any pharmacy and even cosmetic store.

The mechanism of operation of all rapid pregnancy detection tests is the same.

It is based on the detection of human chorionic gonadotropin in a woman’s urine. This is a hormone that is produced by the structures of the embryo after it attaches to the uterus or fallopian tube. Normally, this hormone does not exceed 5 international units per ml. But already on days 7–10 after conception, the hCG level reaches 25!!! Mme/ml. A special reagent is applied to the surface of the test being examined: it consists of antibodies to HCC. If a woman is expecting a baby, then these antibodies, upon contact with urine, react with hCG, showing two stripes. Human chorionic gonadotropin is produced in the blood of the expectant mother, and then excreted through the kidneys, and therefore the tests are equally effective for determining both normal and pathological - ectopic - pregnancy.

The test strips that most women use when “testing” themselves for pregnancy are usually placed for a few seconds in a clean container with urine to the level indicated on it, then removed and after some time the result is assessed. The result appears within 5-7 minutes. Then the reagent loses its strength and ceases to act. This test is best done in the morning, when the urine has the highest concentration of human chorionic gonadotropin.

First place in statistics: early research

Can early pregnancy tests be wrong? Of course they can. This is exactly the error that occurs in most cases. Many women can't wait to find out if conception has occurred. Ladies go to the pharmacy for a strip to determine fertilization almost the next day after sexual intercourse. In this case, the study almost always gives a negative result.

So, can pregnancy tests be wrong? If it shows one line, then most likely the level of hormone production is still quite low. No matter how much you want, you will not see a positive result, although you will find yourself pregnant in the future. That is why all manufacturers recommend conducting research only from the first day of missed menstruation.

Clearblue - the most popular electronic pregnancy test: TOP 3 systems

The test system from the Swiss brand Clearblue clearly won in the “best electronic tests” category. In addition to 99% accuracy, it also has a stylish design and an easy-to-use shape. The manufacturer also produces reusable devices.

There are quite a few types of Clea Blue tests, but there are three leaders who have earned the special love and trust of women all over the world and these are:

Clearblue Compact - inkjet system. The instructions indicate how to use the electronic test and when - this can be done as early as 4 days before your expected menstruation.
Clearblue Plus is an inkjet model. It features a curved body shape for a comfortable procedure.
Clearblue Digital - electronic, ultra-sensitive, with deadline detection.

All women, and especially pregnant women, should take care of their physical and mental health. And one of the most important criteria in maintaining excellent health is proper rest.

The IROOM robot vacuum cleaner, which features high suction power, dry and wet cleaning modes, and minimal noise levels, helps you dedicate enough time for yourself and at the same time keep your house clean. This miracle device is a good assistant in solving everyday household problems and provides pregnant women with a comfortable rest.

What to do if there is an error on a pregnancy test?

So, you know the error statistics. If you think that the test shows an incorrect result, then it is worth conducting the study again. In most cases, two or more identical results are never false. The only exception is early testing, in which you see a false negative response.

Many doctors recommend purchasing two tests at once to determine pregnancy. Only in this case you will not doubt the accuracy of the result.

How does a pregnancy test work?

To begin with, it’s worth talking about how this device works. The strip, which you can purchase at a pharmacy chain or supermarket, contains a substance consisting of two parts. On one side, the test is impregnated with a reagent, which is illuminated only when the device is used correctly. At the other end there is a reagent that appears only if you are pregnant.

It is better to use a pregnancy test immediately after waking up. It is in the morning hours that the concentration of the hormone needed for research in the urine is maximum.