Pregnancy Tests: Expert and User Reviews

Our AssessmentThis clinical study uses urine samples with a mixture of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), designed to mimic that seen in the early weeks of pregnancy, to determine the sensitivities of home pregnancy tests (HPTs). Only two HPTs are found to have sensitivities less than 50 mIU/ml: First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test at 6.3 mIU/ml of the hCG mixture and Clearblue Easy +/- Pregnancy Test at 25 mIU/ml of the hCG mixture. Test readers also have the highest confidence in reading positive and negative test results with the First Response Early Result. The e.p.t. +/- Home Pregnancy Test has the highest faulty device percentage, as 8 percent of the devices tested did not work properly. The authors take aim at the FDA approved statements of "over 99 percent accurate" and "use as early as the first day of the missed period" as these claims can be misleading and are not scientifically proven.

Our AssessmentThis 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). They find that the hyperglycosylated form of hCG makes up more than half of the hCG in the urine of pregnant women in the first weeks of pregnancy, but the HPTs are more sensitive at detecting regular hCG than H-hCG. Clearblue Easy +/- Pregnancy Test and Target Early Pregnancy Test (no longer available) were the most sensitive, able to detect 6.3 IU/L of regular hCG. Clearblue Easy along with e.p.t. Pregnancy Test and First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test were able to detect both forms of hCG at concentrations of 25 IU/L and above. The authors of this study also take issue with HPT manufacturers' FDA-approved claims that they are more than 99 percent accurate and provide over 99 percent detection as these statements do not refer to the HPTs' accuracy in detecting pregnancy, but rather the accuracy of the HPT when compared to other hCG tests.

Our AssessmentThough this study does not evaluate or test any home pregnancy tests (HPTs), these authors do test the concept that a HPT can be used on the first day of a missed period and give a woman a reliable result. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) begins to be produced once the fertilized egg, called a blastocyst at this stage, implants in the woman's uterine lining. The authors find that 10 percent of the 136 women who achieve pregnancy, would test negative with an HPT on the first day of their missed period because the blastocyst has not yet implanted. Even after a full week from the first day of the missed period, there are still 3 percent of the women who have yet to begin producing hCG. As such, no HPT can detect all pregnancies on the first day of the missed period because of variability in the implantation times of the blastocyst and variability in a woman's menstrual cycle.

Our AssessmentShape includes a short, lay-person-friendly summary of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology study results, noting that First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test is the most sensitive home pregnancy test, detecting 95 percent of pregnancies on the first day of a missed period, and Clearblue Easy +/- Pregnancy Test comes in second by detecting 80 percent of pregnancies on the first day of a missed period. Methods of increasing accuracy include testing a week after a missed period and/or reading the result at 10 minutes instead of the manufacturer-recommended one to three minutes.

Our AssessmentRobin Elise Weiss, About.com's guide to pregnancy and birth, says she tested five home pregnancy tests (HPTs) on a woman who was five weeks pregnant -- yet the title of this review is "Top 7 Pregnancy Tests." Only six HPTs are listed; the Clearblue Easy +/- Pregnancy Test is listed but not reviewed, and the five other reviews are scant. The First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test earns 5 stars for its ability to be used up to three days before your missed period, as well as its ease of use, accuracy and good value. The e.p.t. Pregnancy Test and Answer Pregnancy Test also receive 5 stars, while the Equate Pregnancy Test from Wal-Mart receives 4.5 stars and Fact Plus Pregnancy Test only 4 stars. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

Our AssessmentUsing herself as a guinea pig, Megan Clarke tests 15 tests (including two digital tests). This article is more about how to interpret results than which tests can make the determination earliest. There's excellent information on this site about how tests work and photographs of each test, but no test is singled out as being best. Though lacking in truly scientific testing, this site is entertaining and informative.

Our AssessmentAn offshoot of ParentingWeekly.com, PreconceptionWeekly.com offers tips and guides for women planning to conceive. This article includes a chart of 25 home pregnancy tests (HPTs) on the market and their reported sensitivities to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The most sensitive test, according to their chart, is AimStick Pregnancy Test Strips at 20 mIU/ml of hCG. The site also briefly explains the results of the 2003 test on HPTs performed by a major consumer reporting group and the 2004 article from the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology listed above, that scientifically tested the sensitivities of HPTs, both of which chose the First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test as the most sensitive. This site offers a link to a brief clip from the television show "The Doctors" that outlines how to use an HPT.

Our AssessmentThis table of home pregnancy tests (HPTs) lists the stated sensitivity to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) as provided by the manufacturers along with anecdotal sensitivities provided by users. Though some of this table is reproduced from the FertilityPlus.org website, this table provides links with helpful information on how to use and interpret some of the HPTs. Though no recommendation is given for the best HPT, each test is given an overall recommendation of plus, minus or a question mark. A link is also provided for more than 40 frequently asked questions about HPTs.

Our AssessmentEpinions.com lists dozens of pregnancy tests, but only about 20 receive owner-written ratings. Clearblue Easy +/- Pregnancy Test scores the highest, earning 4 stars out of a possible 5, with reviews by almost 40 people praising it for its ease of use and accuracy. However there are a handful of reviews that note difficulty in interpreting the results. First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test is also reviewed by more than 40 people and receives 3 out of a possible 5 stars, with women complaining the test did not work as early as advertised and some reporting false positives. These complaints may be due more to the inaccurate advertising allowed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), than problems with the test. While reviews are interesting to read, none of them are scientific or comparative.

Our AssessmentThis retail site sells AimStick Pregnancy Test Strips, AccuHome and BabyHopes home pregnancy tests (HPTs), but the site includes a helpful comparison chart of sensitivity levels to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in urine, as reported by the manufacturers of more than 20 brands of HPTs. Most helpful is the brief discussion before the chart that explains about the variability in implantation times of the fertilized egg and how this can affect the results of your HPT. Also, editors point out that with increasing sensitivity in the HPTs, you may detect early pregnancies that miscarry within the first week. No scientific comparisons or recommendations are given.

Our AssessmentThis study does not compare the sensitivities of home pregnancy tests (HPTs) but rather the readability of the instructions accompanying the HPTs, which can directly affect a woman's ability to accurately use the test and interpret the results. The reading level of the basic instructions ranged from a seventh to 10th grade reading level while the question and answer sections required a reading level between the 11th and 14th grade.

Our AssessmentIn this companion article, Megan Clarke discusses her research into how digital tests differ from regular home pregnancy tests. This is an interesting, easy-to-read explanation of how digital tests work, but there are no ratings or recommendations made.