hCG Pregnancy Midstream Test
How to use and interpret a pregnancy test

Sensitivity and ease of interpretation are the most important aspects of home pregnancy testing. For people who prefer ease of use and interpretation, the handheld midstream test is the typical choice, though it is a bit more expensive than the strips simply because of the convenient, typically mess-free handle.

As noted in our pregnancy test section of the website, hCG tests detect human chorionic gonadotropin - the reproductive hormone that shows up in the blood stream and in urine samples after a woman conceives a baby. The most sensitive tests can measure hormone quantities as low as fifteen to twenty-five mIU. However, as hCG can be present in the system of a non-pregnant woman, we recommend a maximum sensitivity level of 20 mIU. More sensitive tests may produce false positive test results. hCG appears at this level, for most pregnant women, at around seven to eleven DPO (days past ovulation).

Ease of interpretation and test consistency: Using first morning urine is a good idea. hCG is the most concentrated in FMU. Read the result of the test as indicated by the instructions - within the five minute time limit so that ghost lines or evaporation lines do not show up. Note that any test can have these lines and they may simply be caused by the specific chemical composition of urine do to foods consumed. Also, If a sample cup is not cleaned, for example, this may adulterate the next sample and cause some problems. "Follow directions" is our maxim!

Pregnancy Test Procedure

1. Remove the teststick from packet or pouch. Do not take a test from the pouch until you are ready to use it because humidity in the air can, over time, invalidate the test or cause poor wicking performance.

2. With the tip pointing in a down and the test windows facing away from your urine stream, hold the absorbent tip in your stream of urine.

3. Re-seal the pregnancy test with the cap and place on a flat try surface, result windows facing up. You should see a rose-pink color moving across the viewing window as the test begins to work.

4. In 3 to 5 minutes, a rose-pink color band (control band) will appear in the window to show that the test is complete. Interpret the results as shown below. For best results, tests should be interpreted at 5 minutes.

Interpretation of Results

Depending on the concentration of hCG in the test specimen, positive results may be observed in as little as 60 seconds. However, to confirm negative results, the complete reaction time of 5 minutes is required. After you have completed the test, whether you are pregnant or not, a rose pink color band will appear in the control portion (C) of the window. This indicates that the Midstream test is working properly. As urine initially passes through the viewing window, the test band may momentarily become visible. This is not indicative of a positive result. Interpret results only after the complete test reaction time of 3 - 5 minutes.

POSITIVE: Two lines - both a control line and a test line. Presence of both test line and control line indicate that you may be pregnant.

NEGATIVE: Only one color band appears on the control region. If no test line is present, this indicates that pregnancy has not been detected.

Good luck and good testing!

. Pregnancy Tests
> Pregnancy Test Strips
> Pregnancy Midstream Tests

. Ovulation Tests
> Ovulation Test Strips
> Ovulation Midstream Tests