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The FAQs on HPTs

Home Pregnancy Test Basics

Faint positive results can be quite confusing. And if you've been waiting to see a positive result for a long time, a faint sign may cause you to doubt your vision! Interestingly, faint positives are quite common. They generally occur when the amount of hCG detected is very low and the test is reacting weakly. Still, a faint positive sign generally means just what it shows: hCG was detected. You should always read the information sheet that comes with a home pregnancy test and call your doctor if you see a faint result. Testing again a few days later is also recommended.

Yes. Home pregnancy tests are not 100 percent accurate, and when you factor in human error, environmental factors and the chance of a faulty product, you see why re-testing is a good idea in most cases. Although false positives are much more rare than false negatives, they still happen. For example, if you have taken the test at the wrong time of your cycle or contaminated the test, exposed the test to harsh environmental conditions (excess sun exposure or extreme cold can affect certain tests) or if the test has expired, you may get a false reading. The most common cause for a false negative is taking the test too soon. As hard as it is to wait until you've missed a period, you will get a more accurate result if you test no earlier than 12 days past ovulation. You should always talk to your doctor if you believe you have a test result that is false.

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