Best Reviewed
Pregnancy Tests
- Best home pregnancy test First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test *Est. $13
- Best digital home pregnancy test First Response Gold Digital Pregnancy Test *Est. $16
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Clearblue Easy +/- Pregnancy Test
- Good sensitivity
- Among easier nondigital pregnancy tests to interpret
- Increased false negatives if testing too early
- Reports of false positives
The Clearblue Easy +/- Pregnancy Test is a close runner-up to the First Response Early Result (*Est. $13 for two-test kit). Like First Response, Clearblue Easy was able to detect both human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and its other form, hyperglycosylated hCG (H-hCG), as low as 25 mIU/ml in a 2001 Clinical Chemistry study. A study in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found that on four out of the six tests the Clearblue Easy +/- was able to detect hCG as low as 12.5 mIU/ml. However in a study in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association that used a mixture of hCG and H-hCG to test sensitivities, Clearblue Easy was only able to consistently detect 25 mIU/ml. The authors calculated that with this sensitivity, Clearblue Easy would have been able to detect 80 percent of the pregnancies in their study on the first day of a missed period. A major consumer reporting group found Clearblue Easy one of the easier HPTs to interpret at low concentrations, but some users complain that the results can be difficult to interpret, and some report false positives (though these can have various causes) as well as evaporation lines -- giving the appearance of a positive result if the test is read after its recommended reading time.
We found the best comparisons and data on the sensitivity of Clearblue Easy +/- Pregnancy Test in various medical journals, including the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Chemistry and Current Medical Research and Opinion. Parents.com and About.com offer rankings and recommendations while users at Viewpoints.com, Drugstore.com and Epinions.com discuss their personal experiences with Clearblue Easy.
| Clearblue Easy +/- Results Pregnancy Test, 2 Count (Packaging May Vary) | |
(7 reviews) In Stock. Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping |
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Our Sources
1. Journal of the American Pharmacists AssociationDetails/Subscribe
This clinical study uses urine samples with a mixture of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) forms designed to mimic that seen in the early weeks of pregnancy to determine the sensitivities of home pregnancy tests. Clearblue Easy is able to consistently detect 25 mIU/ml of the hCG mixture, which the authors say would translate to detecting 80 percent of pregnancies on the first day of a missed period. The reviewers also report high confidence in interpreting positive test results.
Review: Sensitivity of Over-the-Counter Pregnancy Tests: Comparison of Utility and Marketing Messages, Laurence A. Cole et al., Sept. 28, 2005
2. American Journal of Obstetrics and GynecologyDetails/Subscribe
Researchers test 18 home pregnancy tests for sensitivity at various concentrations of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Clearblue Easy +/- is able to detect all of the samples with 25 mIU/ml of hCG and 80 percent of the samples with 12.5 mIU/ml of hCG.
Review: Accuracy of Home Pregnancy Tests at the Time of Missed Menses, Laurence A. Cole, Sarah A. Khanlian, Jaime M. Sutton, Suzy Davies, William F. Rayburn, Jan. 2004
This clinical study evaluates 592 urine samples from women at various stages in their pregnancies to determine what form of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is prevalent at what time. Researchers also evaluate 15 home pregnancy tests (HPTs) at various concentrations ranging from 6.3 IU/L to 50 IU/L of both regular hCG and another form, hyperglycosylated hCG (H-hCG). Clearblue Easy is able to detect 6.3 mIU/ml of regular hCG and 25 mIU/ml of H-hCG.
Review: Detection of Early Pregnancy Forms of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin by Home Pregnancy Test Devices, Stephen A. Butler, Sarah A. Khanlian and Laurence A. Cole, Dec. 2001
4. Current Medical Research and OpinionDetails/Subscribe
This clinical study compares the Clearblue Easy Digital Pregnancy Test with five other over-the-counter nondigital pregnancy tests, including the Clearblue Easy +/- Pregnancy Test. The Clearblue Easy Digital and the Clearblue Easy +/- are found to be the most sensitive tests, but this study is funded by the manufacturer of the both Clearblue Easy tests, Swiss Precision Diagnostics.This article is available for a fee at http://www.cmrojournal.com
Review: Comparison of Accuracy and Certainty of Results of Six Home Pregnancy Tests Available Over-the-Counter, Catherine Tomlinson, Jayne Marshall and Jayne E. Ellis, May 2008
This article details the results of a major consumer group's testing of home pregnancy tests (HPTs) done in 2003. Eighteen brands are tested against varying concentrations of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in urine, and the tests are rated on their sensitivity, ease of use and interpretation of results. Clearblue Easy +/- is noted to be one of the easiest HPTs to read at low concentrations of hCG.
Review: The Best Pregnancy Tests, Tatiana Morales, Jan. 2003
Shape includes a short, easy-to-read summary of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology study results, which find the Clearblue Easy +/- the second most sensitive home pregnancy test, detecting 80 percent of pregnancies on the first day of a missed period.
Review: The Most Accurate Early Pregnancy Tests, Sharon Cohen, May 2004
This site offers consumer reviews and summaries of those reviews as well as composite pros and cons lists for each home pregnancy test (HPT). Clearblue Easy +/- Pregnancy Test earns 4.56 stars out of 5 with more than 40 reviews. Advantages of this test include its ease of use, readability and ability to be used early, but some consumers report difficulty in interpreting test results.
Review: Clearblue Easy +/- Pregnancy Test Reviews, Contributors to Viewpoints.com
8. Epinions.com
Epinions.com lists dozens of pregnancy tests, but only about 20 receive owner-written ratings. Clearblue Easy +/- Pregnancy Test is the highest rated with 4 out of a possible 5 stars from 39 reviews. Consumers like the Clearblue Easy's ease of use and accuracy, though there are some complaints that the results are faint and difficult to interpret.
Review: Clearblue Easy Pregnancy Test, Contributors to Epinions.com
With almost 50 reviews, Clearblue Easy +/- Pregnancy Test only receives 2.5 out of a possible 5 stars. Complaints are mainly about difficulty in reading the test and inaccurate results, though some of these may be due to testing too early. Some consumers also note false positives and "disappearing positives".
Review: Clearblue Easy Pregnancy Test, Contributors to Drugstore.com
Pregnancy Tests Runners Up:
7 picks including: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Drugstore.com…
3 picks including: Viewpoints.com…
