1. First Response
Best at Home Pregnancy Test
5/5 Product Rating
It is able to detect even tiny amounts of HCG, the pregnancy hormone which is why it can detect pregnancies earlier than other tests. The long, comfort grip handle is easy to hold so users don’t have to struggle anymore while trying to ensure accuracy when urinating on the test area of the stick. The test stick has a 50% wider tip than the old tip was which makes it easier to target.
It has a large, easy to read window with easy to understand results: 1 line – not pregnant, 2 lines – pregnant. You will have your results in 3 minutes. First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test is the #1 selling pregnancy test brand. It states over 99% accurate from the day you expect your period to arrive.
– Linda Krantz
2. Clearblue
Best Early Pregnancy Test
4.9/5 Product Rating
This hygienic pregnancy test has a cap that you can put on the end after gathering the urine and the wider tip makes it much easier to conduct the test accurately. You can also gather the specimen in a clean plastic cup as well and do the test that way.
The Floodguard technology inside the test eliminates errors by preventing any excess urine from getting inside the device and ruining the test results. Clearblue Digital Pregnancy test is over 99% accurate when you test on the day of your expected period. You can even test up to 5 days before your missed period.
– Linda Krantz
3. First Response Pro
Most Accurate and Sensitive Pregnancy Test
4.8/5 Product Rating
This is definitely a unique testing experience that users will enjoy the thoroughness of.Users can test as early as 6 days before the day you miss your period and you can use the test any time of day.
Although first-morning urine contains the highest levels of HCG, First Response is sensitive enough to not require it.If you are pregnant, you will enjoy the interactive app that gives you personalization in the form of an action plan that includes trackers and estimated due date calendar too.This test is over 99% accurate from the date of your expected period. If you think you’re pregnant, get the #1 selling pregnancy test brand on the market.
– Linda Krantz
Pregnancy Test Buying Guide
Things to Consider
There are several things that you will want to know about a pregnancy test before you purchase it. We have outlined many of the most common questions that women want the answers to when they are looking to buy a test.
- How early is the test about to detect a potential pregnancy?
- How much does the test cost?
- How many tests are in the box?
- Is the test easy to use?
- Does it offer a specimen cup option, even if it doesn’t supply the cup?
All of these questions pertain to the test itself. You want to be sure that you are purchasing a test that will have all of these questions taken care of. Below we will go over a few of the considerations in detail and explain their importance.
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Early Pregnancy Detection – Everyone who either wants to be pregnant or is worried about being pregnant wants to find out as soon as they possibly can. The majority of pregnancy tests are designed to detect the presence of the pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin or HCG.
This hormone will show up in the blood or urine if there is a pregnancy present. This hormone will usually start showing up in the urine 6-10 days after conception. The sensitivity of the pregnancy test will determine how soon this hormone is detected.
Some of the better brand name tests are extremely sensitive and can detect HCG very early, when there is 50-100 mIU/ml of the hcg present. Detecting a pregnancy early on can ensure that the woman gets the proper care right off the bat to ensure a healthy pregnancy and baby.
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Cost of the Test – Pregnancy tests come in a huge range of price points and you can get them locally or online. Online ordering offers women great discounts from what they usually run retail. Some of the generic tests online can be as little as $1.00 each when you buy several, but many people worry about buying these super inexpensive tests.
The higher brand names have dropped considerably in price from where they were 20 years ago so it is always better to purchase the well known brands to afford yourself peace of mind about the results.
- Mid-stream and Dip Style – Women can conduct the pregnancy two different ways: mid stream, where the user urinates on the stick tip; or dipstick style where the urine is captured in a clean, plastic cup and the tip of the pregnancy test is dipped into the urine for the allotted time. Many women find the dipstick method much easier to do and less worrisome that there was enough urine on the stick from trying to use it mid urine stream.
- Easy to Use – Both ways of testing with the pregnancy tests are simple to do and easy to follow. Many women don’t know that the test needs to be in the urine stream for 7 seconds and then the cap is replaced and you can wait for the results in 2-5 minutes. Whichever way you choose to conduct the pregnancy test, be sure to read the directions first and follow them exactly.
- Width of the Test Strip – Test strips that are wide are much easier to use than the narrow little tiny ones. The wider test strips are much easier to use and to read.
- Customer Feedback – One of the most reliable ways you can learn about the pregnancy tests you are considering or if you haven’t found one yet, is to see what other women have to say about different pregnancy tests they’ve used. Of course not all feedback will be positive because no one product will make EVERYONE happy, but you can get a very good idea of the quality and popularity of the different pregnancy tests by seeing what people have to say.
Types of Pregnancy Tests
There are several different types of pregnancy tests on the markets. We’ve outlined the different tests below so you can identify the differences.
- Urine Stick Tests – These are very simple in design. Place the test stick into the urine stream and keep there for 5-7 seconds. If the test is able to detect hcg in the urine, it will show a positive result. The simple urine stick test is relatively inexpensive to purchase as well. One complaint that users may have about some of the urine stick tests is that they are difficult to read and they can make the user question the results.
- Digital Urine Stick Tests – The digital tests are similar to the urine stick tests but the results are shown in actual words rather than symbols or lines. They are more expensive than urine stick tests but they have been designed, in most cases, to be very sensitive so they detect pregnancies much earlier than the simpler test sticks can.
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Combination Ovulation Test and Pregnancy Tests – If you are trying to get pregnant, getting these kits that have both ovulation and pregnancy tests in them. In these tests, you will start by using the ovulation detector tests to determine when you are ovulating.
When it is time to check and see if you are pregnant, there are no other tests to purchase because you have the pregnancies in the box already to use. They are a very convenient way to find your most fertile days and then get that positive result you’re hoping for. The complete kits will cost more but if you do your research, you can find some great combo deals.
Conclusion
With so many choices of pregnancy tests on the market, choosing one can be overwhelming. Choosing a good quality, reliable pregnancy test can provide the results and accuracy you want in a test. No one wants to worry that the test result they are seeing are not trustworthy. The higher quality brands are known for their accuracy and reliability so they are always a good choice when it comes to choosing.
The information in this buyer’s guide is designed to help users understand a little bit about how pregnancy tests work and how to sort through the numerous choices to purchase one that is just right for your needs.
Unlike the pregnancy tests of decades past, the modern versions are much more sensitive and can detect pregnancies before a woman’s cycle is even supposed to start. This early detection is very desirable to people who are anxious to find out one way or the other whether they are pregnant or not.
Resources
- First Response – http://www.firstresponse.com/
- Clearblue – http://www.clearblueeasy.com/