Maybe you're actively trying to get pregnant. Or perhaps, you just had a missed period. You decide to take a home pregnancy test that involves using a test strip in the bathroom. While these are quick and convenient, they also leave room for error. In particular, you might receive a false-positive or false-negative pregnancy test result.

In this blog, learn what false results are, what may cause them, and how to reduce the chance of inaccuracies with your pregnancy test.

What is a False-Positive Pregnancy Test?

A false-positive pregnancy test is, quite literally, test results that indicate you're pregnant when you're not.

What is a False-Negative?

Conversely, a false-negative happens when your pregnancy test results tell you that you're not pregnant when, in reality, you are.

What Causes Inaccurate Test Results?

Many women first use home pregnancy tests, which involve using a urine sample and a dipstick, before seeing their provider for an in-office test. It looks for the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This is a hormone that the body produces during pregnancy.

There are several possible causes of inaccurate results. The biggest is user error. This might mean taking the test improperly or taking it at the wrong time.

hCG Levels Can Be Misleading

While home pregnancy tests might seem simple enough, it's easy to get a false-positive if you time the test wrong, like taking it too soon after sex, a termination, miscarriage, or childbirth. This is because your hCG levels might make it look like you're pregnant.

For instance, if an ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy (gestational trophoblastic disease), or chemical pregnancy occurs, you might have elevated hCG levels. Should a pregnancy test detect hCG, even though you're not pregnant, you'll get a false-positive pregnancy test result.

Other Factors That Can Skew Results

Drinking too many fluids before providing a urine sample can also lead to a false-negative pregnancy test result since it may dilute the urine spcimen.

Sometimes, results can be difficult to read. For example, some tests use a single line or double lines to indicate whether you are pregnant or not. But what might one solid line and one faint line mean? What if not even a single solid line forms? What happens if you take two tests and get two different results?

Not using enough urine on the test strip, or checking the test results too soon or too late, can also lead to inaccurate results on your pregnancy test. Many test strips direct you to leave the strip flat while the results develop. Failing to do so could lead to false results.

Certain fertility medications use the hCG hormone to encourage ovulation, and those can also lead to a false-positive result on your pregnancy test. Finally, there are some rare medical conditions that can interfere with urine tests.

Regardless, if any of these apply to you (for instance, if you're undergoing fertility treatments), you should speak with your healthcare provider about how to get accurate results.

The Bottom Line

Even though several variables can affect pregnancy test results, many home pregnancy tests claim to provide nearly 100% accuracy. This isn't necessarily a lie, but it's more of a clever marketing tactic. Yes, your test results will be accurate—if you get every single detail right. But even a tiny mistake in how you take a test could alter the results that you ultimately get.

If you prefer to first use a home test, that’s okay, but do schedule an appointment for an in-office test to confirm the results. That brings us to our next point.

Is a Blood Test Better to Detect Pregnancy?

Yes, tests that utilize a blood sample generally provide more accurate results. This is because they are more sensitive to the hormone hCG, meaning that should your body produce hCG even in very low amounts, it should show in a blood sample. These tests can also detect pregnancy earlier and with greater precision.

Plus, because the blood sample is collected by a healthcare professional and then sent to a lab for confirmation, user error is decreased. 

Make sure you share information about any health conditions you're experiencing, if certain medications might lead to a false-positive result (like if you're taking fertility medications), or if you recently experienced a missed period, molar pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, or chemical pregnancy.

eNational Testing delivers the results of your pregnancy test in one to two business days. We have more than 2,700 testing centers around the nation and even offer same-day appointments.

Find a testing center near you and get a pregnancy test today.

When Should You Take a Pregnancy Test?

Most home pregnancy tests can detect elevated hCG levels as early as 10 days after conception. However, there are variations. Thus, we recommend that you wait until you've had a missed period to take a pregnancy test. If you take a pregnancy test too soon, it can give you a negative test result even if you're pregnant.

It's ideal to take your pregnancy test when you first go to the bathroom in the morning. Otherwise, try to wait at least a few hours.

If you prefer to take a pregnancy test at home to start, it's still a smart idea to visit your healthcare provider for a blood test to better measure your hormone levels.

The Role of Testing in a Healthy Pregnancy

Reliable testing is a basic part of women's health. When you detect pregnancy earlier, it gives you the opportunity to better prepare, positioning yourself for a safe and viable pregnancy. To avoid a false-positive pregnancy test result, visit eNational Testing today. If you need guidance after receiving your results, you can follow up with one of our clinicians.