Posted by
Aru2012
Monday, 26 March 2012
If you think you are pregnant and want to assure the pregnancy certain home
pregnancy test kits available at drug stores enable you to detect an early
pregnancy. These kits qualitatively measure the pregnancy hormone, human
chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in urine. How ever it is a preliminary test, the
confirmatory test of pregnancy is best performed in laboratory using a sample of
your blood. These tests not only detect hCG but also gauges the amount
(quantity) of the hormone, which doubles every 2-3 days during the first several
weeks of pregnancy. The sensitive tests tell exactly for how much time you are
pregnant and even detect possible problems with the pregnancy.
The level of hCG in bloodstream is measured in blood test and even smaller
amounts of the hormone in blood detect pregnancy earlier than urine tests,
usually about six to eight days after ovulation whereas the hormone hCG in urine
may only be detected from one to 2 weeks after conception after the
fertilization of egg.
Rosette inhibition assay test measures early pregnancy factor (EPF) and can be
detected in blood within 48 hours of fertilization. It is an expensive and
time-consuming test.
Quantitative blood serum tests can detect very low hCG levels as low as 1
mIU/mL, while urine tests can detect the hCG only when its threshold level
reaches to 20 mIU/mL to 100 mIU/mL. Qualitative blood tests have a threshold of
25 mIU/mL.
Home pregnancy tests are based on lateral-flow technology. To get the best
results from home test kit, follow the instructions that come with the kit.
Firstly read the label and instructions carefully to perform the test properly
and secondly use only the tests regulated by FDA.
Common procedure for test at home
1. Hold a test strip and take few drops from your first morning urine stream on
it.
2. Wait for 1 to 2 minutes.
3. If you are pregnant, the test strips show colored bands.
4. Check with the directions to interpret the results.
Though some tests available are so sensitive that they can detect even low
levels of hCG but it is advised that for reliable results, test 1-2 weeks after
missing your period.
Varieties of home pregnancy test kits are available these days. The most common
kits use a test strip or dipstick while other tests require you to urinate into
a cup and dip the test strip into cup.
Some kits contain a urine collection cup with a built-in digital testing device.
This device requires either putting a few drops of urine into it or immersing
the device into a cup filled with urine while still others require you to mix
urine samples with powders or liquids. The conclusion for pregnancy can be drawn
by the change in color of the test strip by the chemical reaction happening. The
color is compared with the given chart and the result is thus interpreted.
The above are the initial tests for pregnancy. After pregnancy is confirmed
several tests are preformed through out the entire gestational period of nine
months.
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