How Accurate Are Home Pregnancy Tests?
Used correctly from the day of your missed period, home pregnancy tests are around 99% accurate. Accuracy drops if you test too early. False negatives are far more common than false positives.
What affects accuracy
- Timing — testing before your missed period lowers accuracy.
- Urine concentration — first-morning urine is best.
- Following instructions — correct dip and read times.
- Test sensitivity — some detect lower hCG than others.
False negatives vs false positives
False negatives (test says no when you are pregnant) usually come from testing too early. False positives are rare but can follow certain fertility medications or medical conditions, or reading an evaporation line as positive.
How to maximise accuracy
- Test from the first day of your missed period.
- Use first-morning urine.
- Read within the stated time window.
- Retest in 2–3 days if unsure, or get a blood test.
Related questions
Are digital tests more accurate?
They read the result for you, reducing misreading, but detect the same hCG as line tests. Timing matters most.
Can medications affect the result?
Fertility drugs containing hCG can cause false positives; most other medicines do not affect the test.
Should I confirm with a doctor?
Yes — confirm a positive with your doctor to begin antenatal care.
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Join The Circle40-Week GuideReferences
- WHO. Antenatal care recommendations. who.int
- ACOG. Pregnancy resources. acog.org
- NHS. Pregnancy guide. nhs.uk
- CDC. During Pregnancy. cdc.gov
- Office on Women's Health (US). womenshealth.gov