Accuracy on Positve Preganancy Tests

Congratulations!! We should be hearing an announcement in 9 mos. there are very rarely false positives, when the tests are done correctly. However, i have had my share of false negatives, as it takes me a while to have enough HCG to show up on home tests. Again, congrats.

I just talked with someone recently who had a false positive, but she was told that are very rare. I guess it's not impossible to have a false positive, if the circumstances are right. But it sounds like another test should clear it up for you!

Hi S.,

This is a subject I happen to know a little about, as I had to do a study on it for a college course several years ago. Although false positives on pregnancy tests can happen, they are VERY rare. Here are a couple of reasons for a false positive:

Chemical Pregnancy: this is basically a miscarriage. Research has shown that half of all pregnancies end in miscarriage. It is possible to take the test, show a positive, and miscarry within the next few days causing a positive test result. Since this happens within the first month of pregnancy, the cells do not even have a chance to attach to the uterus, and are excreted during your menstrual cycle.

Chemical Interference: There are drugs that have the Human Chorionic Gonadotropin hormone in them (hCG- the hormone produced in the body during pregnancy). If you have taken any medications with this hormone, it will cause a false pregnancy test.

Reaction time: If you let the test set for over ten minutes after taking it, it can cause the test to be invalid and show a false positive. You need to read the test around 3-5 minutes after taking.

The best bet is to get a test that reads "Pregnant" or "Not Pregnant" - If you received a positive test result, most likely you are pregnant, but as I indicated earlier, there are some instances that may interfere causing a false positive test - but again, very rare. Let me go ahead and extend my congratulatory sentiments now : ) !!

Good Luck S.!

A.

Hi S. yes there is a such thing. I took a test that I got at the store cause I just knew that I was well the test said yes, but to be sure since I was at the doc anyway for an appt. I went ahead and had them run a test and theirs said that I wasn't. So I went about things like normal my son even had to have some x-rays done and I told the tech that there was no way that I was. Another week went by and I still felt like I was so instead of the doc I went to Birthright and had yet a 3rd test done and theirs said that I was.

I went back to my other doc and theirs said I was this time around. I felt so horrible because of the x-ray thing and a couple months later I went into early labor and my son was born 4 months early and only survived 19 days in the NICU.

So what I'm trying to say is if you and your body are both thinking that you are I would go again and have another test to see what it says or even an ultrasound to confirm. Until you know for a fect either way just be careful and don't take any chances just incase you really are pregnant.

I have always been told there are no false positives when it comes to the tests you do at home. You can get false negatives when it is done too early (maybe the one at the appt. was too early), but if it is positive it is correct.

I've been told that there is no such thing as a false positive. Either you have the pregnancy hormones or you don't. If the test detects the hormore, it means you are pregnant. Chances are, the first test you took was false b/c you hadn't yet produced the hormore. This happened to my sister the 1st time she got pregnant! Congrats!!

If all these responses didn't convince you yet, you can get a blood test from your doctor to be sure. CONGRATULATIONS on your new little blessing!

I think the first one was probably negative due to being taken too early and possibly due to the infection affecting the level of HCG hormone in your urine. Perhaps you should try going to the dr. again and asking for a blood test to be sure. I've not heard of false positives before...although that doesn't mean they don't happen. You just want to be sure for your own peace of mind.

Hi S., I haven't have false positives on test, but I can tell you that on my 2 pregnancies I felt like I was going to start my period and I would. But it would not get heavy and then stop within a day. So yes, felling like you could start at any time is pretty normal.

Good luck!

Yes, sometimes you can have a false positive. Sometimes if you are on antibiotics, they can give you a false positive. Also, if you are nearing your cycle, you can get a false positive. I have heard of both of these happening. It has to do with hormone levels.

It is less much less likely to achieve a false positive (very rare), but ti does happen. Best bet is to just take another one. The dollar store sells them, and they are just as accurate as the 25 dollar ones if you feel the need to take quite a few of them.

It could be that the test you took on the 30th was just too early to detect. It's been about 2 weeks since then, and your body is producing more of the hormone now. I would say if the last test was positive then it's probably right. Congratulations!

Hi S., my doctor told me that false positives are very rare, because they test for the presence of the hormone HCG, that is only present during pregnancy. If I were you I would take another one to be sure. Good Luck

S.,
I was in the same boat that you are now. I have never been regular with my monthly (not even while on birth control). The day I went in for my annual I had been up all night long with excruciating pain everywhere in my abdomen. My OB checked what she needed to and ran a pregnancy test to make sure maybe I wasnt pregnant and having problems with it...it was negative. Being an OB there was only so much she could do to help me so she sent me right down to the ER. They ran a 2nd pregnancy test before they did any of my other tests or treatments and it came back negative.
A few weeks later I had a positive pregnancy test at home and made my appt with my doctor again. They ended up doing a sonogram on me to determine my due date because of those 2 HOSPITAL tests, and turns out I was pregnant when those to were done.
The nurse and doctor were at a loss as of what happened.
Apparently things like that can happen. I would maybe wait a few days and take another test and if it is positive i would make your first ob appt.

False negatives are common, but false positives are relatively rare. I'd bet that it's correct and you are pregnant. Take another test to confirm and call your dr. Congrats. :)

I aggree with Jules - it sounds like your pregnant! I'd take one of the digital tests - there are no lines to worry about just a simple Pregnant or Not Pregnant. ;) Best of Luck!!

False positives are not very common. As long as you read the test during the time limit (usually 10 minutes) it should be a reliable positive. How dark was the line? Was it the color of the test line? If all of these apply, then you are pregnant. Take another test to make sure, or see a doctor but false positives are not very common. Congrats!

I actually had a doctor's test turn out negative when I was actually pregnant with my daughter (now 3). It was just a little early. A couple of years later I had a positive test and all the symptoms but ended up starting my period late. My doctor said it may have been a false positive or I may have been pregnant and just lost it very, very early (this is what I feel happened because false-positives are very rare... unfortunately early losses are very common and most women don't even know they were pregnant... they just assume their period was a little late).

Well, I pray you have another little answer to prayer. I am seven-months along with my second... after two losses (the early one and one at 13 wks) ... so we are very grateful! Don't be discouraged if it's not this time - it will happen as you know already that you can have healthy babies.

My doctor said that pregnancy tests these day are very accurate because they are very sensitive to the hormones we produce when we are pregnant. You may have conceived after the 30th and it can pick that up. You may only be a few weeks. If you are truly pregnant, congratulations. God is giving you another gift. Enjoy it! Good Luck and God Bless.

If you want them to be really sure, have them do a blood test. Your hormones are going haywire if you are pregnant, especially if this is you first. My hormones were absolutetly crazy with my first pregnancy. I was sick for the entire 9 months! It was definantly worth it though. If you want to be really sure, do a blood test.

Most of the time the pregnancy tests are pretty accurate when it comes to reading positive results. Most of the inaccuracies occur when it says false when in fact you are pregnant. If your really unsure, get the blood test instead of the pee test in the office. It will waste less time. Plus, before you can see an OB doc, they require you to get a blood test anyways.

False positives do happen, my friend had 2 or 3 due to a bad product. I would take a test using a different brand then if it is positive make a doc. appointment.

Well, let me tell yo that those things are pretty accurate. I remember when we were trying to get prego and the test came out positive (it just barely showed positive). so I went to the store and bought 15 tests that were made by different company's. I went home, peed in a cup and dipped every single one and layed them out like a pretty little chorus line. Guess what? All positive. Take another on monday and then call your doc.

Good Luck!
K.

I agree with Audra, if the test says that you are then Congratulations!!! Like she said, either the hormone is there or it isn't. The test would not say that you are pregnant if it did not detect the HGC. Let us know what the test on Monday says...I am pretty sure it will say +++