How Common Is A False Negative Pregnancy Test And What Causes It?

Home Pregnancy Tests

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) pregnancy tests or home pregnancy tests determine pregnancy through the detection of the hormone Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) in a woman’s urine. Doctors recommend that you wait until you have missed a period to take a home pregnancy test. If you can not wait that long to find out and you know the day you may have conceived, then the earliest you can take a test would be 14 days from possible conception. Home tests are usually 97% accurate when all instructions are followed correctly and the results are read on time. Some kits come with two tests so that in case you have made a mistake, you may take the home pregnancy tests gain. Learn more about the accuracy of home pregnancy tests in another relevant article.

False Negative Pregnancy Tests And What Causes Them

If you take a home pregnancy test too early, you may get a false negative result. A false negative result is when the test says you are not pregnant but you are. This can be misleading and when using home pregnancy tests you must be very careful of avoiding any factors that may cause false results.

AimStrip Pregnancy Test Strips

Generic Pregnancy Test Strips

There could be various reasons for a false negative test.

Early Detection Attempt
One reason for a false negative pregnancy test could be that you took the test too early. Pregnancy tests vary in their sensitivity which means how soon they can detect the hormone Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) in your urine. It is possible that although your ovum might be fertilized, meaning you may be pregnant, but your body has not started secreting enough Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) for the test to measure. Your body needs time for the hormone to rise to a high enough level to be detected in a test.

Erratic Technique
There is a possibility that while using the home pregnancy test strip you either did not dip it well or did not hold it well in your urine stream. This error in technique may give false negative results.

Missed Reaction Time
For accuracy in home pregnancy tests it is essential that you read the test results in the stipulated reaction time. If you let the test sit for too long (after the instructions on the box tell you), the test is invalid. This may cause it to show false negative results.

If the home pregnancy test shows negative results but you still think you could be pregnant, wait a few days and try again. A negative result can mean that you are not pregnant, you took the test too early or you took the test wrong. Also, if you have received different answers on multiple pregnancy tests, it is recommended that you get a blood test done to get an accurate answer.

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This entry was posted under About Pregnancy Tests.