Don't want to end up with a false negative? Tap ahead to learn more.
A missed or late period can feel like reason enough to take a pregnancy test, stat. But if you take a test too early, there's a chance you could end up with a false negative.
Ideally, the best time to take a home pregnancy test would be the day after your missed period— in other words, a full week after your first missed day.
Taking a test at this time ensures that your results will be the most accurate they can be, which is around 99%, according to a 2014 study (and pretty much every pregnancy test box).
When a person becomes pregnant, a hormone called hCG is released into their bloodstream, and then makes its way into their urine, according to Medline Plus.
At first, the amount of hCG in a pregnant person's urine increases at a rapid rate of about 50% each day. So if you take the test early, accuracy is impossible.
Most home pregnancy tests aren't sensitive enough to detect hCG before or on the first day of a missed period, according to the 2014 study.
If you've already taken a test which came out negative, definitely take another one if it's been a week and your period still hasn't shown up. A false positive, though, is a much rarer occurrence than a false negative.
Pregnancy tests that you have done in the doctor's office can determine the amount of hCG in your blood, which shows up sooner, and is more accurate.
Take the test first thing in the morning when your urine is extra-concentrated. Follow the instructions that come with the test. Wait long enough before you look at the reading. It’s worth it to have a totally accurate test — we promise!