Table of contents:
- Causes of false positives (false positive)
- 1. Chemical pregnancy
- 2. Too late to see results
- 3. There are chemicals that are annoying
- 4. A steam line appears
- Causes of false negative results (false negative)
- 1. Do the test too early
- 2. Too soon to see the test results
- 3. Using urine that is too liquid
Have you heard the term false positive or false negative when using a pregnancy test (test pack) at home? Sometimes the pregnancy test kits that we use are misinterpreted. Although the urine pregnancy test kit has an accuracy of 97%, errors in the results are possible. You are actually pregnant, but the pregnancy test shows that you are not pregnant, or vice versa.
Things like that we sometimes encounter, are really annoying, so it would be nice if you test it twice or more, or if necessary, see a doctor to confirm the results.
Causes of false positives (false positive)
This may rarely happen, but it can happen to you. The pregnancy test shows that you are positive for pregnancy, even though you are not. This is what is known as false positive .
False positive it might happen to you which could be caused by:
1. Chemical pregnancy
About 25% of pregnancies end in chemical pregnancies, also known as early miscarriages. This occurs when your pregnancy disappears shortly after the fertilized egg implants on the uterine wall (implantation). As pregnancy tests are becoming increasingly sensitive these days, you can detect your pregnancy at a very early stage. Your pregnancy test has detected that you are pregnant, even though your future baby has already died before developing.
2. Too late to see results
Using a pregnancy test that is not as directed can also make the results shown by the pregnancy test false. You must follow the instructions for using the pregnancy test kit properly. There should be instructions on the packaging how long you will have to wait for the results to come out. If you read the results in the past time beyond the directions given, then the results may not be correct.
3. There are chemicals that are annoying
Chemicals from drugs can interfere with pregnancy test results, for example, methadone. In addition, if you are on fertility treatment and are taking fertility drugs that contain HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin), this may also interfere with the test results. This HCG hormone triggers you to release an egg. Taking a home pregnancy test shortly after you take a fertility drug containing HCG can cause a pregnancy test to come back positive even though you are not pregnant. Wait 14 days until the HCG levels in your body are completely gone, then you can do a home pregnancy test.
4. A steam line appears
Some pregnancy tests leave a vapor line on the kit as urine passes through the results area. This vapor line is usually very faint and gray in the area of the test results. Some women think the results are positive because of the presence of these steam lines, even though the color of the lines is different from the color of the lines they should be (as indicated).
Causes of false negative results (false negative)
Contrary to false positive , false negative shows a negative result of a pregnancy test, when in fact you are pregnant. This can happen, which is caused by:
1. Do the test too early
The earlier you take a home pregnancy test after your period is late, the more difficult it will be for a pregnancy test to detect HCG that indicates you are pregnant. The home pregnancy test is a qualitative test that measures the presence or absence of the HCG hormone in the urine. We recommend that you take a pregnancy test one week after you are late for your period. By this time, the level of HCG in your urine can be detected by a pregnancy test. If you can't wait to find out if you are pregnant or not, it's best to visit your doctor for a more accurate examination.
2. Too soon to see the test results
Seeing test results that are too quick (not as directed on the packaging) can also cause you to misinterpret. The pregnancy test will take enough time to show you the results. Better not to rush, wait until the results actually come out. Follow the directions on the packaging and don't forget to always check the expiration date of the pregnancy test.
3. Using urine that is too liquid
The home pregnancy test you use uses urine as a medium to detect pregnancy. If your urine is too runny, it can make it difficult for pregnancy tests to detect the presence of HCG in the urine. It's best to use your morning urine for a more accurate test result because morning urine has the highest concentration.
If you feel you have symptoms that indicate that you are pregnant, but a pregnancy test shows different things or vice versa, you should immediately visit your doctor and have a blood test to confirm your pregnancy.
