Home pregnancy kits are reliable provided that you follow the instructions correctly.

Positive test results from home kits are usually always accurate. However, negative results tend not to be quite so reliable. Thing that can affect the accuracy of the results include:

  • Don’t follow the instructions properly
  • Take the test too quickly

Some medications (see below) may also influence the results.

You can buy home pregnancy tests over-the-counter at most chemists and many large supermarkets.

Carrying out a test

When you first get pregnant, your body produces large quantities of the pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG). Home pregnancy tests detect HCG in your urine.

Make sure that you have read and understood the instructions before you take the test, because pregnancy tests use different methods and display the results in different ways.

Urine samples can be done from day one of your missed period. If your periods are irregular, you may not be sure when this is.

Check the details to make sure you can do the test at any time of day. Avoid drinking too much fluid before starting the test because it can dilute the level of HCG in your urine.

Positive test results

If the test result comes back positive, you’re almost certainly pregnant. You should contact your GP as soon as possible. Because home pregnancy tests are so accurate, they may not repeat the test.

If you want to continue with your pregnancy, a doctor or nurse can organise your antenatal care.

Negative test results

If however, the result is negative, you may not be pregnant. However, negative results are far less reliable. For example, if you do a pregnancy test too early, you could be pregnant, but there may not be enough HCG in your body to give a positive test result.

Pregnancy tests can vary in their sensitivity (how soon they can detect HCG and what level of HCG needs to be present). Normally there will be details on the packet about how sensitive your test is.

If you still think you’re pregnant after a negative result, wait a week and try again or see your GP.

Mindful Mum – online resources for mums including help in choosing baby names to guides about implantation bleeding