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Home pregnancy tests: Can you trust the results?

Could you be pregnant? Get answers to common questions about home pregnancy tests.
By Mayo Clinic Staff

Taking a home pregnancy test can be nerve-wracking, especially if you're not sure you can trust the results. Know when and how to take a home pregnancy test

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Positive Beta hCG Level
2 Types of hCG Testing
Pregnancy Test
15 Early Signs
Center

What is a positive beta hCG level?

A positive beta hCG levels means that you are pregnant. The

Pregnancy Tests
How do pregnancy tests work?

Pregnancy tests are an easy and accurate way to find out if you’re pregnant — you just pee on a stick. They’re inexpensive and available at most drug and grocery stores.
How accurate are pregnancy tests?

Pregnancy tests are super accurate when you use them correctly. The

What a Positive Pregnancy Test Really Looks Like
You bought the test, peed, waited three minutes and now it’s (finally!) the moment of truth… but, uh, is that really a positive? Results can be pretty tricky to read — especially when you’ve got a faded line or a kinda-there plus sign.

What Does a Faint Line on a Pregnancy Test Mean?
Confused woman looking at faint line on first response pregnancy test results

When you take a pregnancy test, the control line shows that the test is working, and the test line shows the results. If a second line appears (pink or blue)

Why would I get a faint line on a pregnancy test?


A faint line on a home pregnancy test may leave you wondering whether you're pregnant or not – but if it's even faintly positive, you're most likely pregnant. The test looks for a hormone called human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) in

What to do about an evaporation line on a pregnancy test

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Taking a pregnancy test can be a nerve-racking experience, especially when it

A faint line on a home pregnancy test may leave you wondering whether you're pregnant or not – but if it's even faintly positive, you're most likely pregnant. The test looks for a hormone called human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) in your urine. Your body starts producing hCG right after implantation,

Why would I get a faint line on a pregnancy test?
A faint line on a home pregnancy test may leave you wondering whether you're pregnant or not – but if it's even faintly positive, you're most likely pregnant. The test looks for a hormone called human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) in

Does a Faint Line on a Pregnancy Test Mean It | s Positive or Negative?

Faint-positive-pregnancy-test
Taking a home pregnancy test is always a nail-biter. How accurate the results are depend a lot on when you take them and what the lines in the window reveal.
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