Pregnancy Test Guide: How to Use, Accuracy and Costs

Medically reviewed by Leigh Ann Anderson, PharmD. Last updated on Aug 30, 2024.

There are two different types of pregnancy tests: those that check your blood and those that check your urine. Blood tests are performed at a clinic, but the urine test can be done at home or in a clinic. Home urine pregnancy tests are readily available at pharmacies and online.

Many woman like the convenience and privacy of using a urine pregnancy test at home to initially determine if they are pregnant or not. Home pregnancy tests are very accurate (if used properly), inexpensive and easily available at the pharmacy or grocery store. Some store brand products, such as Equate, can even be found for under $1.00. Most only take about 10 minutes to see the results.

Read and follow the package instructions exactly. If you have questions, call your health care provider or pharmacist.

If a pregnancy test is found to be positive, or if it is negative but you still suspect you might be pregnant, you should contact your health care provider.

What early pregnancy symptoms or pregnancy signs may occur?

For many women, the first sign of pregnancy is a missed menstrual cycle (their period). Other early symptoms of pregnancy or signs of pregnancy include:

• nausea and vomiting (or morning sickness, which can really happen at any time of the day or night)
• tender or swollen breasts
• increased urination, especially at night
• fatigue and tiredness
• food distastes or food cravings

How do pregnancy tests work and how are they be used?

Both urine and blood pregnancy tests detect the presence of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The hCG hormone is usually only present in blood or urine if a woman is pregnant.

When an egg fertilized with sperm is implanted in the uterus of the woman the hCG hormone is then produced. The egg usually implants into the wall of the uterus about six days after fertilization, but in about 10% of women implantation may not occur until after the first day of the missed period. The levels of hCG rise in the body early in pregnancy after implantation occurs.

How accurate are home pregnancy tests?

While many early detection pregnancy tests claim to be 99% accurate (meaning it works 99 times out of 100) even a few days before a missed period, the results are usually less accurate then. Read the label on your pregnancy test to find out when to take a pregnancy test and how accurate it will be.

5 tips for using a home pregnancy test

• Home pregnancy test results are more likely to be accurate if they are used the first day after a missed period.
• Testing with your first urination in the morning is more likely to have higher amounts of hCG in the sample and may give you a more accurate result. Don't drink a lot fluids before the test as this can dilute your urine and may affect the results.
• Before you start the test, read all package directions on how to use and when to check the results to increase your accuracy.
• While home pregnancy tests work in the same way by detecting hCG in the urine, the specific directions for use may vary from test to test. 
• Store unopened tests in a cool, dry place. Check the box before use to be sure the pregnancy test has not expired. 

A blood pregnancy test done at the doctor’s office (also known as the beta hCG test) can detect low levels of hCG and measure the actual quantity of hCG in your body. This test may be the most accurate option if you need a pregnancy test very early. Women should contact their physician if they prefer the beta hCG blood test.

In up to 10% of women, implantation of an egg may not occur until after the first day of the missed period, in which case hormone levels of hCG may not be high enough to be detected by the test until then.

If you get a negative pregnancy result with a home urine test, repeat the test one week after your missed period to be sure the result is negative, or contact your doctor for further advice. Women with positive pregnancy tests should contact their healthcare providers right away.

How to read the results on your home pregnancy test

Some tests instruct the user to hold the test stick in the stream of urine, while others involve dipping the stick or pregnancy test strips into a cup of collected urine. Be sure you wait for the correct number of minutes in the directions before you read the results.

Most urine pregnancy tests have a “control” window and another window that is the “results” window. When this line or other symbol appears in the control window it ensures that the test is working properly. If a control window does not show a line or other symbol as indicated by the package instructions, then the test is not working properly. A new pregnancy test should be used the next morning.

In the results window, you will see a sign or word that gives you the results of the test. This might be a plus or minus sign, double vertical lines, the words "yes" or "no", the word "pregnant" or some other symbol as directed by the package instructions.

For positive results, the woman should contact her physician to make a follow-up appointment as soon as possible.

If the results are negative, it is best to confirm the results of the test by repeating it in a few days to a week. If you get a negative test and then miss your period after that, take another new pregnancy test.

A faint symbol on the pregnancy test result window is usually still positive but may mean that the levels of hCG in the blood are are still quite low. If you are concerned about a faint line on a pregnancy test, it is best to wait a few days and repeat the test, or contact a physician for a confirmatory blood test.

Some digital pregnancy tests now have a digital display window that will report the results in words, such as “pregnant” or “not pregnant”. Digital pregnancy tests may not have a control window, but may show a flashing symbol in the window prior to the result.

Most home pregnancy tests come with a toll-free number to call if the woman has questions. You can also check with your doctor or pharmacist if you questions about your home pregnancy test.

Where can I get a home pregnancy test?

Home pregnancy urine tests are easy to get without a prescription and are usually affordable.

• Home pregnancy tests can be bought without prescriptions at most pharmacies, grocery stores, larger retail chains and online.
• If you buy a pregnancy test over the Internet, but be cautious and buy it from a reputable online retailer. Always check the expiration date on the package once the test is received and before you use it.
• If the expiration date has passed, do not open the test and return it for a refund.

What are names of pregnancy tests and the cost?

Common names of at home pregnancy tests include:

• First Response Early Result ($12 for a 3-pack)
• First Response Rapid Result ($7.99 for a 2-pack)
• Clearblue Rapid Detection ($8 for a 2-pack)
• Clearblue Early Digital ($12.99 for a 2-pack)
• EPT Analog Pregnancy Test ($14.00 for a 2-pack)
• Easy@Home ($9 for 20 strips)
• Natalist ($14 for a 4-count)
• Pregmate Pregnancy Test Strips ($14.00 for a 50-count)

^{Note: Prices are estimates and may vary based on location}

Costs

On average, home pregnancy tests cost between $1 and $25 depending upon the brand, store and contents. Many packages may also contain more than one test to allow for an additional test in a few days to a week to confirm the results.

Brand name home pregnancy tests listed above are available in addition to the less expensive "store brands" or generics at retailers like Target, CVS, Walgreens and Walmart.

Flexible Saving Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) plans can typically be used to pay for home urine pregnancy test kits.

If you get a urine pregnancy test in the doctor's office or clinic, it may be more expensive using your insurance for payment or paying cash than using an at-home test. 

Where can I get a free pregnancy test?

You may be able to get a free pregnancy test at certain health centers in your community. Call your local county health department or Planned Parenthood.

Beware that some clinics in your neighborhood may pose as legitimate clinics but do not give out truthful and unbiased information about pregnancy and your options. When in doubt, call your established doctor, nurse or other healthcare provider for pregnancy test questions.

Which pregnancy test is best?

All home pregnancy tests should give accurate results if not expired and the directions are followed closely. Many home tests claim to be 99% accurate on the first day of the missed period. Read the instructions that come with your package to see the test accuracy, which may differ depending upon when you take the test. Taking a test before you've missed a period may lower the accuracy.

Ultimately, following the package instructions and waiting at least one day to a week after the first day of your missed period will give you the most accurate results for all tests. If you receive a negative pregnancy test, it's always best to test again in a few days to confirm the results.

If you suspect you might be pregnant even if your test result is negative, contact your healthcare provider.

What is a false positive pregnancy test or a false negative pregnancy test?

• A false positive is when the results of the pregnancy test indicate that the woman is pregnant, but she is not.
• A false negative pregnancy test is when the results of the test indicate that the woman is not pregnant, but she is pregnant.
• A false-negative is much more likely to occur than a false-positive.

What can cause a false positive pregnancy test?

In rare circumstances, the hCG hormone may be present in the body when a woman is not pregnant and may lead to a false positive result on the pregnancy test.

Some fertility medications (medications that are used in people who are having trouble getting pregnant) may cause a false-positive because they contain hCG. Other circumstances that can lead to a false positive include:

• ovarian cysts
• recent pregnancies
• pregnancy loss soon after a fertilized egg implanted (biochemical pregnancy)
• an ectopic pregnancy
• a molar pregnancy
• menopause

What can cause a false negative pregnancy test?

Reasons for a false negative pregnancy test may include:

• performing the test too early before adequate hCG hormone levels rise
• timing the test wrong (checking on the results too early)
• using a dilute urine (for example: drinking a lot water right before your test)

To help avoid false negative results, wait for at least one day to one week after a missed period to use the pregnancy test, use a timer or stopwatch to increase pregnancy test accuracy, and use the first urine of the morning for the test, when the concentration of hCG is at its highest level.

If you continue to get negative test results, but you think you might be pregnant or your period does not start, contact your doctor. There are several other medical conditions that may cause you to miss your period, such as heavy exercise or thyroid problems.

Can medicine or alcohol interfere with the results of a home pregnancy test?

• Most medications, including birth control pills, antibiotics, and pain relievers do not interfere with pregnancy test results.
• If you are using fertility drugs to help with pregnancy, they may cause a false-positive on your pregnancy test. If you are using fertility medicines, check your results with your health care provider.
• Alcohol should not interfere with the results of a pregnancy test; however, alcohol should not be used if a woman is trying to conceive, is pregnant or is sexually active without a reliable form of birth control.

Learn More: See the Female Infertility Guide

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

This is not all the information you need to know about Pregnancy Test Use and does not take the place of your doctor’s directions. Discuss any medical questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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