Couple looking at pregnancy test

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It can feel like a long time since you last wondered if you are pregnant. There are a lot of emotions that come with expecting a baby, and with good reason.

Using a reliable at-home pregnancy test can give you a fast answer to the big question you’re asking. It can also let you know if you need to schedule an appointment with a doctor or midwife (and put the cocktails on pause).

Home pregnancy tests detect a hormone in your urine called hCG (short for human chorionic gonadotropin). When a sperm and an egg join and start growing, some of the cells (that will soon become the placenta) start producing hCG.

Home pregnancy tests look for the rise in levels of the fertility drug hcg in early pregnancies.

One of the ways to use an at- home pregnancy test is to pee in a cup and dip the stick in your urine.

You lay the stick or strip flat and wait for the amount of time given on the box to be finished.

“It is best to wait until after a day, ideally the week after, to get the most accurate results. If there isn’t enough hCG in your urine, a pregnant woman can’t be detected on a test.”

If you get a negative result on your pregnancy test, it might just be too early to tell. Try waiting a few days, then check again. It’s more common to get a false negative on a pregnancy test (due to testing too early, using an expired test, or not following the instructions), but false positives do occasionally happen.

If you have been sexually active (even using contraception) and your period is late, it’s probably a good idea to take a pregnancy test. While there are other reasons your period could be late, an at-home pregnancy test is a good place to start.

You may also want to take a pregnancy test if you’ve been experiencing any early pregnancy symptoms, such as:

For this list, we polled several physicians and midwives to get their expert opinions, read research studies, asked some parents, and even peed on a few sticks ourselves. We particularly focused on accuracy.

While many brands claim 99 percent accuracy, that depends on when you test. A large, third-party study shows that for some mainstream tests, it can be lower depending on when you test in relation to a missed period. The most accurate time to test is starting on the day of your missed period and the week after.

The most recent research to compare mainstream tests was conducted in 2011. Some brands may have changed their technology since.

What the pros said

“The consensus from healthcare professionals was that the home pregnancy test you use doesn’t matter, it just depends on your preferences.”

If that’s the case, what does matter when taking a home pregnancy test? They had a few key suggestions:

  • Make sure the test is still valid.
  • Wait until after you missed your period to test.
  • The box has instructions on it.
  • Call your doctor or midwife if you:
    • A positive test result is possible.
    • “Your period still doesn’t start even after a negative result.”
    • Severe abdominal pain, nausea, and other symptoms are what concern you.

There are some key differences that can make a test better for you. We have selected the top home pregnancy test options to help you make your choice.

  • It is sensitivity.
  • convenience.
  • speed
  • Cost

Pricing guide

  • $ = under $5 per test
  • $$ = over $5 per test

Best overall pregnancy test

First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test

  • Price: $
  • Results time: 3 minutes
  • Display method: line test

In the largest study of over-the-counter pregnancy tests to date, First Response proved to be 97 percent accurate from the day of your missed period. Easy to find online and in stores, this simple, accurate, and affordable test is by far a user favorite (and can be a great choice if you just want to know — NOW!). It comes with three tests per pack, and you can buy a two-pack.

In addition to being the most sensitive at-home test, First Response Early Result has an ergonomically designed handle that’s easy to hold (you’d be amazed how many sticks we almost dropped in the toilet). You can hold it under your stream of urine as you pee with no need to pee in a cup and dip. It’s also available in a digital format if you’re concerned about reading the results correctly.

Pros

  • It will deliver results up to 6 days before your period.
  • It was shown that has the most accurate day of missed period.

Cons

  • Some reviewers have reported false positives and false negatives.
Shop now at Amazon

Best pregnancy test for fast results

Clearblue Rapid Detection Pregnancy Test

  • Price: $
  • Results time: 1 minute
  • Display method: line test

The Clearblue Rapid Detection Pregnancy Test can deliver results in 1 minute if you feel like waiting. The results are quick, but you should still wait a week after your missed period to test, as the study showed only 64 percent accuracy on the day of the missed period.

This test is easy to use and widely available, but we found more false positives with this test than any of our other choices. A false positive on a test can be a roller coaster of emotions, so it may be worth waiting a few extra minutes with one of the tests that is more reliable. Two per pack is what this test comes with.

Pros

  • fast
  • The results are easy to read in separate windows.

Cons

  • It may not be as accurate in the days leading up to a missed period.
Shop now at Amazon

Best digital pregnancy test

Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test

  • Price: $$
  • Results time: not advertised, but the smart countdown makes this clear during testing
  • Display method: digital word display

One of the most common complaints with pregnancy tests is that they can be hard to read. Is that a second line?

It is not fun to guess what is likely to be an emotional time. The Clearblue Digital pregnancy test can be helpful. It has a timer that will flash when it is ready to read, and it will give you a result in words rather than lines.

This test also claims to be sensitive enough to test 5 days before your missed period (and certainly may be in many cases), but will be most accurate if you wait until after your period should have started — in fact, in the 2011 study we referenced earlier this digital test detected only 54 percent of pregnancies on the day of a missed period. But Clearblue may have improved its technology since.

Five per pack is what the test comes with.

Pros

  • There is a smart feature that flashes when the results are ready.
  • It\’s easy to read results that say “pregnant or not pregnant”.

Cons

  • It is more expensive than other tests.
  • It may not be as accurate in the days leading up to a missed period. according to external studies, despite claims it can detect pregnancy up to 5 days prior
Shop now at Amazon

Best pregnancy test strips

ClinicalGuard Pregnancy Urine Test Strips

  • Price: $
  • Results time: under 5 minutes
  • Display method: colored lines

Test strips are just as accurate as they are not user-friendly.

Test sticks are larger and more absorbent than the strips used for pregnant women. They are a little more difficult to handle and may not absorb the urine properly, which may not give an accurate result.

If you’re fixated *raises hand* on finding out if you’re pregnant and want to test every single day after you ovulate (or test 10 times even after you get a positive just to be sure), these strips are a great way to go!

Pros

  • It is It is inexpensive..
  • Control display alongside results makes interpretation easier.

Cons

  • The test sticks are messier.
Shop now at Amazon

Best budget-friendly pregnancy test

Pregmate Pregnancy Test Strips

  • Price: $
  • Results time: under 5 minutes
  • Display method: line test

Pregmate pregnancy test strips are a good option for a low price. If you are trying to conceive and will be taking a lot of tests, this is a good way to go. These strips are easy to use and read, and are accurate if taken near your period.

It is best to wait until after a missed period, as they can work up to 5 days before. They come in a bag, so you can test away.

Pros

  • It is It is inexpensive..
  • 50 to a bag.

Cons

  • Some reviewers say lines are not very strong.
Shop now at Amazon

Best pregnancy test kit

Easy@Home Ovulation & Pregnancy Test Kit

  • Price: $
  • Results time: 3 to 5 minutes
  • Display method: line test

If you are TTC and want to know more about your baby, you can purchase a pregnancy test kit. This one has 40 ovulation test strips and 10 pregnancy test strips.

Ovulation test strips work just like pregnancy tests, but they check for a rise in luteinizing hormone (LH). This tells you if you’re likely to ovulate in the next 24 to 48 hours so you know when to get the baby-making on. Then, two weeks after doing the deed, you can use one (or a few) of the pregnancy test strips to see what happened.

If you are going to be doing a lot of testing for fertility and pregnancy, this is a budget-friendly option. The company has a free app that helps simplify your cycle tracking.

Pros

  • Comes with both tests.
  • “You can use the app to better predict when you’ll have a baby.”

Cons

  • The line method is less reliable and more difficult to decipher.
  • When other tests like Clear Blue show positive results, reviewers have noted negative results with these strips.
Shop now at Amazon

Best pregnancy test for assurance

First Response Triple Check Pregnancy Test Kit

  • Price: $$
  • Results time: varies per test
  • Display method: line test

It can be a little hard to believe your results (positive or negative) the first time, so if you want to be really sure, this variety pack from First Response may be a winner. With three separate sticks, you can test early, at your missed period, and after your missed period.

The First Response Early Detection test is included along with their digital test and rapid (1-minute result) test. This could be a great choice for you if you want more information.

Pros

  • You can take three types of tests, the day of, and after your missed period.

Cons

  • Not as economical as some test strips.
Shop now at Target

Best pregnancy test subscription

Stix Pregnancy Test

  • Price: $$ (but the Cost per test can vary based on subscription)
  • Results time: 5 minutes
  • Display method: line method with a control window

“The most popular subscription option for at- home pregnancy tests is offered by Stix, a modern women’s health brand.”

Delivery options include every 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and 16 weeks. You can include up to four boxes.

The tests are 99 percent accurate on the day of a missed period. The Stix tests are eligible for the health savings account.

Pros

  • The brand is owned by women.
  • The model is easy to use.

Cons

  • Some reviewers think the results window is too small.
Shop now at Stix

Best pregnancy test with app integration

Modern Fertility Pregnancy Test

  • Price: $ (but the Cost per test can vary based on subscription)
  • Results time: 5 minutes
  • Display method: line method

“Modern Fertility tests claim to be 99 percent accurate. They come in a small, discreet packaging that some reviewers did not like. It makes testing in public places much easier. They fit into your back pocket, so you don’t have to carry your purse or announce your pregnancy test to the world.”

You can track your results in the accompanying app. You can better predict your most fertile days with the help of the ovulation tests. You can also mention possible conception days.

The tests are eligible for the health savings account.

Pros

  • The model is easy to use.
  • You can track your cycle with the app.

Cons

  • Some reviewers say the tests are small and not as long as other over-the-counter tests.
Shop now at Modern Fertility

Brand name Price Results time Tests per package Display method
First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test $ 3 minutes 3 line
Clearblue Rapid Detection Pregnancy Test $ 1 minute 2 line
Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test $$ not stated 5 digital (words)
ClinicalGuard Pregnancy Urine Test Strips $ under 5 minutes 20 colored lines
Pregmate Pregnancy Test Strips $ under 5 minutes 50 line
Easy@Home Ovulation & Pregnancy Test Kit $ 3 to 5 minutes 40 for ovulation, 10 for pregnancy line
First Response Triple Check Pregnancy Tests $$ varies per test 3 line
Stix Pregnancy Tests $$ 5 minutes 2 line
Modern Fertility Pregnancy Test $ 5 minutes 4 line

Here are some things to consider when choosing a test.

  • Type and collection method. Some pregnancy tests are sticks, while others are strips. Some are meant to have you pee directly on them, while others require you to pee in a cup first. Which type you choose largely boils down to preference.
  • Speed. Do you just want to know right now, or are you down to wait a few minutes? Some tests, like the Clearblue Rapid Detection Pregnancy Test, can give you results in as fast as one minute, while others require you to wait for up to five minutes.
  • Cost. Tests can range from as little as 30 cents per test to more than $5 per test.
  • Number per package. If you’re trying to conceive and want to test regularly, it might make sense to prioritize tests that come in larger quantities. If you just want to test once or twice, you might want to opt for tests that come just a couple to a package.
  • Sensitivity. Some tests may pick up on a positive result earlier than others.

There are urine pregnancy tests for the presence of the pregnancy hormone hcg at home, the doctors office, and in strip or stick form.

If you go to your midwife or doctor’s office, they may also choose to do a blood pregnancy test, which looks for the presence of the same hormone, hCG, in your blood.

Urine pregnancy tests alone are typically very accurate, so blood pregnancy tests are mostly used only if there is a need to know the exact level of hCG in your system (for example, if there is a concern for a miscarriage or other pregnancy complication).

What is the most accurate pregnancy test?

In the largest study of over-the-counter pregnancy tests to date, First Response proved to be 97 percent accurate from the day of your missed period for both its digital and manual line tests.

The study only compared six over-the-counter tests from three brands. Many brands have changed their technology. The newer direct-to-consumer brands that have burst onto the scene, as well as other brands not included in the study, may prove to be just as accurate.

Which pregnancy test provides the earliest results?

First Response and Modern Fertility can detect a baby up to 6 days before your period. It is important to note that the accuracy is not as high. It is still a good idea to test after your missed period. On the day of a missed period, most at- home pregnancy tests can be up to 99 percent accurate.

Which week in my cycle should I take a pregnancy test?

For the most accurate results, take a pregnancy test the week after a missed period. Some home pregnancy tests can detect pregnancy earlier, but there’s a higher chance for false negatives during this window if your body hasn’t built up enough HCG. Even if you test early, it’s best to take another the day of a missed period and the week after a missed period.

The waiting period can be difficult if you are excited to be pregnant or not. There are many great at- home tests you can take to get the answer you are looking for.

The good news is that the tests have a high rate of accuracy if you use them correctly.