If you’ve missed a period, the one thing you need to confirm is whether or not you’re pregnant. When you Google “pregnancy test near me”, numerous results may appear. Some may mention urine tests while other clinics offer blood-based tests.
You probably have questions about the accuracy of each, how fast you can get your results, and more. We’re here to answer those questions, as well as provide other important information that may be helpful to you when making a decision regarding your pregnancy.
How Do Pregnancy Tests Work?
There are two pregnancy test options: urine tests and blood tests. Both types of pregnancy tests detect a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which is only produced during pregnancy.
As the name implies, urine pregnancy tests use a urine sample to detect hCG, while blood pregnancy tests use a blood sample. There are two types of blood pregnancy tests[1]:
- Quantitative blood tests, which measure the exact amount of hCG in the blood.
- Qualitative blood tests, which only determine if hCG is present in the body or not.
How Early Do Pregnancy Tests Work? How Accurate are They?
Urine Pregnancy Tests
You could get a positive result from a urine test as early as ten days after conception. However, if you take it too soon, you could get a false reading. You may get a more accurate result if you wait to take a test until after you’ve missed your period[2]. When done correctly, urine pregnancy tests can be up to 97-99% accurate[3]. Results are typically available in 3 minutes, but if you wait too long to check, the reading may be inaccurate[2].
Blood Pregnancy Tests
Blood pregnancy tests can detect even small amounts of hCG before you’ve missed a period[3]. This means they can yield a more accurate result earlier in pregnancy[2]. However, they are only performed in clinics and doctor’s offices, so you will need to make an appointment. Additionally, it can take hours or even days to get your results back[3].
Does the Type of Pregnancy Test Matter?
The type of pregnancy test you take is up to you. Urine pregnancy tests can be just as accurate as blood pregnancy tests when used correctly. They’re also cheaper and produce results much faster.
If you choose a urine pregnancy tests, you may prefer to have it administered in a clinic, to give you peace of mind that the tests are of medical-grade quality and performed by a trained individual. Different clinics offer different types, and some charge a fee while others offer this service at no-charge.
It’s not Just the Confirmation of the Pregnancy that’s Important.
Whatever test you choose, confirming your pregnancy can still be a difficult experience. Maybe you want to be discreet, but you’d like someone by your side in such a big moment. Maybe you just don’t want this to be real at all. When faced with an unexpected pregnancy, it’s not just the confirmation of pregnancy that is important, because whether you are considering parenting, abortion, or adoption, you will also need an ultrasound to determine viability as well as gestational dating prior to making your plan.
The good news is, you don’t have to do this alone! Little Way provides free pregnancy tests and other medical services, so you can get the information you need and the confidential care and support you deserve!
Give us a call at (502) 264-8233 or schedule your appointment today! This appointment is at no cost to you and is always confidential.
Little Way provides lab-quality urine pregnancy tests and does not offer blood pregnancy tests.
Sources
- Knowing if you are pregnant. Office on Women’s Health. (2022, February 22). https://www.womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/you-get-pregnant/knowing-if-you-are-pregnant
- Pregnancy Test: When to Take, Types & Accuracy. Cleveland Clinic. (2023, November 28). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9703-pregnancy-tests
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2022, November 8). Pregnancy Test. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/pregnancy-test/
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