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Pregnancy Testing: At-Home vs Professional

August 22, 2021

woman holding pregnancy test
Whether a suspected pregnancy is planned or not, many women will start with an at-home pregnancy test to determine if they are pregnant. If it turns out positive, they schedule a visit with their doctor for a follow-up test. You might be wondering what the difference is between the two tests. We’ll help moms-to-be understand how home and in-clinic pregnancy tests work, the accuracy of each, and other considerations.

How Pregnancy Tests Work

By using a sample of your urine or blood, pregnancy tests look for the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG. This hormone only develops in the body during pregnancy. The production of hCG doubles every three days and peaks at eight to 11 weeks.1

When to Take a Pregnancy Test

Some pregnancy tests are more sensitive than others and can detect pregnancy as early as one day after you miss your period. Others can detect pregnancy within a week. There are two main types of pregnancy tests: urine tests and blood tests. Both detect the amount of hCG in the body.

At-Home Pregnancy Test

Urine tests are commonly used as at-home pregnancy tests. You can purchase these at most pharmacies, grocery stores, and other retail locations and use them in the privacy of your own home. Depending on the type of test you purchase, you could have a result within minutes.

Home pregnancy tests are very accurate – about 97% – when used correctly. Keep in mind that your body needs time to build up the hCG hormone, so if you take the test too early, it is possible to get a negative result when you might really be pregnant. Here are some tips for reducing the chances of a false-negative test:2

  • Read the directions completely before taking the test.
  • Follow every step exactly as written.
  • Test using your first morning urine when hCG levels are most concentrated.
  • Make sure your bladder is full for at least four hours if you have to test another time of day.
  • Refrain from drinking excessive amounts of fluid before testing because it can dilute your hCG levels.

Medical Office Pregnancy Test

If you get a positive result from your home pregnancy test, the next step is to have your doctor confirm it with either another urine test or a blood test. A blood test is more sensitive than a urine test and can pick up hCG earlier in the pregnancy, about six to eight days after ovulation. Doctors use two types of blood tests: quantitative and qualitative hCG. The first measures the exact amount of hCG in your blood – even the tiniest amounts. The second is as accurate as a urine test and just checks to see if hCG is present.3

There is no shortage of decisions to be made when the pregnancy journey begins. For tips, guidance, and nutritional support, Prenate® is here for you.

 

Prenate® Vitamin Family
This post is brought to you by the Prenate® Vitamin Family, a line of prescription prenatal supplements designed to enhance preconception, prenatal, and postpartum nutrition in women. Talk with your doctor about how taking a daily prescription prenatal or postnatal vitamin could help support a healthy pregnancy and postpartum wellness.

Pregnancy tests graphic

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6. Keep this product out of reach of children. In case of accidental overdose, call a doctor or poison control center immediately.

WARNING: Ingestion of more than 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids (such as DHA) per day has been shown to have potential antithrombotic effects, including an increased bleeding time and International Normalized Ratio (INR). Administration of omega-3 fatty acids should be avoided in patients taking anticoagulants and in those known to have an inherited or acquired predisposition to bleeding.

This site and its contents are an information resource only, and are neither intended to nor should be used in replacement of your doctor or other prescribing professional’s medical guidance, recommendations or advice. Neither this site nor its information should be used or relied upon for any diagnostic, medical, treatment, nutritional or other purpose. All aspects of pregnancy, including whether pregnancy is right for you, and the nourishment and care of your child, should be made with your doctor and other appropriate medical professional, and in consideration of your and your child’s particular medical history. Avion Pharmaceuticals, LLC (“Avion”) makes no representation, warranty or other undertaking that this site or its information are appropriate for you or your child’s specific needs or issues, and further expressly disclaims all damages, losses, injuries or liability whatsoever incurred or alleged to have been incurred in consequence of your reliance on the information on this site. Avion does not endorse any test, procedure, treatment, remedy, therapy, cure, nutritional regimen, method or other activity or undertaking that you and/or your doctor or other medical professional may elect or recommend. By visiting this site you agree to these terms and conditions and acknowledge that you have read and understand the same. These terms and conditions, together with any information on this site, may be amended, restated or otherwise changed from time to time and at any time by Avion within the sole, absolute and uncontrolled exercise of its discretion. You acknowledge and agree that Avion has no duty or obligation to keep you informed of any amendments to, restatements of or other changes to these terms and conditions or this site, and that you are solely and exclusively responsible for apprising yourself of the same.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6. Keep this product out of reach of children. In case of accidental overdose, call a doctor or poison control center immediately.

WARNING: Ingestion of more than 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids (such as DHA) per day has been shown to have potential antithrombotic effects, including an increased bleeding time and International Normalized Ratio (INR). Administration of omega-3 fatty acids should be avoided in patients taking anticoagulants and in those known to have an inherited or acquired predisposition to bleeding.

This site and its contents are an information resource only, and are neither intended to nor should be used in replacement of your doctor or other prescribing professional’s medical guidance, recommendations or advice. Neither this site nor its information should be used or relied upon for any diagnostic, medical, treatment, nutritional or other purpose. All aspects of pregnancy, including whether pregnancy is right for you, and the nourishment and care of your child, should be made with your doctor and other appropriate medical professional, and in consideration of your and your child’s particular medical history. Avion Pharmaceuticals, LLC (“Avion”) makes no representation, warranty or other undertaking that this site or its information are appropriate for you or your child’s specific needs or issues, and further expressly disclaims all damages, losses, injuries or liability whatsoever incurred or alleged to have been incurred in consequence of your reliance on the information on this site. Avion does not endorse any test, procedure, treatment, remedy, therapy, cure, nutritional regimen, method or other activity or undertaking that you and/or your doctor or other medical professional may elect or recommend. By visiting this site you agree to these terms and conditions and acknowledge that you have read and understand the same. These terms and conditions, together with any information on this site, may be amended, restated or otherwise changed from time to time and at any time by Avion within the sole, absolute and uncontrolled exercise of its discretion. You acknowledge and agree that Avion has no duty or obligation to keep you informed of any amendments to, restatements of or other changes to these terms and conditions or this site, and that you are solely and exclusively responsible for apprising yourself of the same.

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