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Pregnancy Test Faint Lines and Evaporation Lines
The Two Big Pregnancy Test Questions:
1) How Early Can I Test for Pregnancy?
2) What Does a Faint Line Mean on a Pregnancy Test?
How Early Can I Test for Pregnancy?
One question women frequently ask when trying to conceive is: How long do I have to wait before I can take a pregnancy test? Though hCG is produced at different rates in different women, there are general timelines for deciding when to test. However, when testing on the early side, do not rely on one test for conclusive results - especially a negative result: the hCG threshold for displaying a positive result on a home pregnancy test may not yet have been reached.
Early Detection Pregnancy Tests
When a woman becomes pregnant, the amount of hCG in her system should be around 25 mIU at 10 dpo (days past ovulation), 50 mIU at 12 dpo, 100 mIU at around two weeks dpo (these are averages that may deviate among different women). Test sensitivity equates with early-detection - and the lower the number, the sooner a test can detect pregnancy. At 20 MIU test sensitivity, you can begin testing at 7-10 days post ovulation, though the earlier you begin testing, the higher chance you have of getting a false negative. Early-Pregnancy-Tests.com carries early-detection pregnancy tests capable of detecting just 20 miu/ml hcg.
Here, implantation of the fertilized egg needs to take place before hCG is produced by the developing placenta, and that generally occurs at 6-10 dpo. If you decide to test early, make sure you perform a few follow-up tests every other day using first morning urine. Your hCG levels should rise exponentially, doubling every 2 days - which means that the follow up tests should eventually detect pregnancy if you are, in fact, pregnant.
For earliest detection of pregnancy, use first morning urine, as this urine sample contains the most concentrated amount of hCG. If using first morning urine is not feasible, avoiding urination for several hours before using a pregnancy test.
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A faint color band in the test area of a pregnancy test indicates, in most circumstances, a positive result for pregnancy.
However, a faint line appearing after the designated reaction time of the test may be an "evaporation line".
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What Does a Faint Line Mean on a Pregnancy Test?
On a pregnancy test, a faint test line - or color band - is usually indicative of a positive result, as long as it's read within the time frame - or reaction time of the test (usually at 5-10 minutes). If you perform the pregnancy test properly and read results within the recommended time frame, then a faint or weak color band in the test area is very likely a positive pregnancy test.
Evaporation Lines
Evaporation lines, however, can confound results if tests are not interpreted within the clinically recommended time frame. An evaporation line develops when the urine on the test area begins to dry, leaving a faint, usually colorless line. Evaporation lines appear to show up (or not show up) as a result of the composition of the particular urine specimen - and they may appear on any test regardless of brand.
Explanations for Faint Positives
- Testing Too Early: If you test too soon, hCG may not be at a sufficient level for test detection. See the section above on determining when to take a pregnancy test.
- Low Test Sensitivity: Different tests detect hCG at different levels, from 20MIU to 100MIU or more. 20 MIU tests will display a faint line when when hCG levels are at 20 MIU, while less sensitive tests will display a negative result. At 50 MIU levels, a 20 MIU test will show a stronger color band while a 50 MIU test will show a very faint band.
- Dilution of Urine Specimen: Urine specimens may be diluted due to frequent urination or consumption of liquids. First morning urine is recommended for pregnancy testing as it contains the most concentrated presence of hCG.
- Chemical pregnancy: Sometimes an early pregnancy is detected - followed by negative test results. A chemical pregnancy means implantation takes place (hCG is produced for a short time) followed by a miscarriage (generally, before any other pregnancy symptoms are detected).
- Evaporation Lines: Always read your test results within the test reaction time (usually 5 minutes) as evaporation lines can develop as the urine dries on the test area. Evaporation lines appear to show up (or not show up) as a result of the composition of the particular urine specimen - and they may appear on any test regardless of brand.
Remember, a pregnancy test does not function like "light switch" - and just turn on: different hCG levels will produce different gradients of color bands (from very light, faint lines early in pregnancy to dark, rich color lines later on as hCG develops).
Read More About Pregnancy Tests
Comments
i took at test this morning because it is march 19th and my last period was january 29th and the equate ept lines are sopose to be a +/| reading and mine came out like that but the horizontal line in the + was faint and the Vertical line was dark what does that mean
Hi to all of you
I took a pregnancy test last friday and it came out as positve and then in the morning i took another and both test were strongly positive and then i started bleeding this i my first child and we have been waitin for this for 6yrs and nothing happen so after 6days i stop bleeding and then i took another pregnancy test it came out as faint line and then i tryed again and then it was faint so i went to my doctor and they took blood test the result will be in tommorrow so i hope this will be good news for us. i just don't know if i am still pregnant or not . thanks
I'm 12 dpo today (based on OPK). I woke up at 3AM and really had to pee, so since it was technically my first urine of the day I took the test. It was a 6day before missed period kit. The line was really faint. I am assuming I am pregnant and am going to test again in a couple of days. I hope I'm pregnant. I've had tons of symptoms, (almost period like symptoms 2 weeks before my period). Fingers crossed
hello all, for those of you trying to get pregnant, my doc. gave me some good advice. if you really want nature to take it's course, relax and listen to your body. i tried after two years of active trying and i started to feel when i ovulated and cryied everytime my period, but this past month i felt my ovulation, and six days later felt the implantation, and all that was left was to wait 10 more day( which felt like forever) to test. so relax take 10 minutes everyday to just listen to how you feel, soon you will be intune and hopefully successful. good luck to all.
hi im 10 days late on my period.i believe i having systoms of pregnacy im 21 yrs old n i do have a son thats 7months.but i took a test n it was negative.but then it said wait ten mintues then my mom n i saw a faint line were the postive was could that mean that im pregnant.please help
Today I got a real possitive line with clear blue.. Hoping this one is a sticky bean... good luck to all, PS my Doc said that a line, even faint is a positive..
Hi, i'm 39 and I am 15 days late and i have taken 4 hpt all BFN last one was day 7 late, Today I took an asda hpt and it had a very faint positive, But i'm not sure will test tomorrow with fmu and see if i get a BFP (hoping) But I think at 15 days late it should be a dark line. This is my 5th pregnancy, I had a m/c sept 08 and i have had no luck TTC since then, But even that one had a clear positive test, I have sore boobs, dizzy, headaches and have just started feeling sick, but this could just be wanting a baby?? It is all I think about and i feel so alone as my dh doesn't know how much i want another baby?? He knows that we don't use protection and will be happy if nature takes it course but he doesn't want to actively try or go for tests.
So what do you all think about faint poss lines???
~~~~*~*~* BABY DUST TO YOU ALL*~*~*~~~~
So my husband and I decided after a year and a half of marriage bliss we would try and get pregnant. As we are young and wanted to make the process fun we decided to try only in the month of February. It we didn’t end up pregnant we would wait until summer to try again. Today I decided to take the test, after calculating my last period I figured taking a pregnancy test by March 4 or 5th should give me accurate results. However today I received a faint line. So now I am extremely confused, I do not know if a faint line is positive or negative. So pregnant or not pregnant that is the question. I guess I will have to try again tomorrow.
I usually have a 21 day cycle, but jan and feb was 25 and 26 days respectively. I had my iui on 20th feb 2010.
Its 25th day today, and i am anxious to know if i am pregnant as i have missed period by a day.
Can someone help me overcome this stress of not knowing for sure if i am pregnant.
God bless all those who r trying for their bundle of JOY!
I REALLY NEED HELP! Im 20 years old and i think im prego, im freakin out bad! I took a test yesterday and it said negative, however the next morning i looked at it again and there was a 2nd faint line! Did i just miss that line yesterday, or was it because it sat out to long! Im having symtoms that im prego! im so confused and im really freakin out! Please help! ASAP!
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