How Does A Pregnancy Test Kit Work?
A home pregnancy test kit is not only convenient, easy to use, and quick, but also offers the privacy you need. All those available on the market will provide you with a very accurate result, as long as you follow the instructions indicated in the package. Moreover, they all work similarly. You can test your urine in one of the following:
You'll be able to see the results after a few minutes. To further confirm, you can the result of the test to your doctor, which will usually perform an even more sensitive pregnancy test.
How Do I Know Which Pregnancy Test Is Best For Me?
When shopping around for a pregnancy test kit, there are a few factors to take into consideration. However, the most important ones for most women are the following:
Early detection
This comes as no surprise. If you suspect that you're pregnant, you don't want to wait even for a day to know. You must confirm it instantly. The majority of over-the-counter pregnancy test kits work by detecting the hCG hormone in your urine. This hormone becomes present once implantation of the fertilized egg in your uterine wall occurs. Typically, this happens between 6 to 10 days upon conception.
As the embryo inside you starts to grow, your hCG level increases quickly. Still, how fast a pregnancy kit can detect your pregnancy will depend on its hCG sensitivity. This is measured in thousandths of International Units (mIU).
Ten days prior to conception, you'll have an hCG level of about 25 mIU. Most kits you'll find in drug stores can detect hCG levels either 50 mIU/ml or 100 mIU/ml. Those that are calibrated for 50 mIU/ml level will be able to detect pregnancy as early as 12 days. Meanwhile, tests calibrated for 100 mIU/ml can detect your pregnancy around two weeks after your ovulation. So basically, the more sensitive a pregnancy test is, the faster it can detect pregnancy accurately.
Affordability
Most midstream pregnancy test kits in the UK cost anywhere around £10 to £15. These are available in both 50 mIU/ml and 100 mIU/ml levels. There are also pregnancy strips available for detecting early pregnancy that cost about a pound.
Luckily, you can get pregnancy test discounts on Amazon UK, Boots, Home Bargains, and other well-known UK retailers here at Latest Deals. That means you don't have to pay full price on top pregnancy test kit brands in the market. So that's one less thing you need to worry about.
Ease of use
Both the midstream and test strip types are pretty straightforward to use. Likewise, they'll be able to deliver quick results. Pregnancy test strips are what OB-GYNs typically use.
For this type, you have to collect a sample of your pee in a small container or cup and dip it vertically into your urine sample for about a few seconds. Then, remove the strip from your sample, lay it flat on a non-absorbent and dry surface, and wait for the indicated time on the package for your result to appear. One line means the result of your pregnancy test is negative while two lines mean positive.
The midstream type is where you need to remove the cap from the test kit itself. Then, hold it in your urine stream for approximately seven seconds, and place the cap back. You'll usually know the results within 2 to 5 minutes. The result will read similar to the stick format.
