Pregnancy Tests Reviews

The reviews below are assigned ratings by ConsumerSearch. These ratings are based on credibility in testing, evaluating and identifying the best Pregnancy Tests. See our ratings criteria

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Pregnancy Tests Reviews Reviewed
Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Pregnancy Tests Ratings Comments on Reviews
1. Consumer Reports >> Details/Subscribe	When the test really counts Editors of Consumer Reports Feb. 2003		Consumer Reports tests 18 home pregnancy tests, focusing on the marketing claim that many are "99% accurate." The editors point out that to make this claim, manufacturers are only required to show that a test matches the results of an older test already on the market 99% of the time, so it's simply a comparison between older and newer tests. The tests are evaluated for sensitivity and ease of reading. We hope to see Consumer Reports update this test.
2. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology >> Details/Subscribe	Accuracy of home pregnancy tests at the time of missed menses L. Cole, S. Khanlian, J. Sutton, S. Davies, W. Rayburn Jan. 2004		This clinical study tests 18 home pregnancy tests for sensitivity at the time of a missed period. First Response was consistently the most sensitive, even detecting a lower level of hCG (12.5 mIU) than claimed by the manufacturer (15 to 25 mIU). The authors also mention flaws with Confirm and Clear Choice home pregnancy tests that led to frequent false-positive results.
3. Yale-New Haven Hospital Healthlink	How accurate are home pregnancy tests? Norman Ravski, MD Apr. 29, 2004		This site provides information on limitations with home pregnancy tests, interpreting results, practical tips and more from Dr. Norman Ravski, MD, an attending gynecologist/obstetrician at Yale-New Haven Hospital and an assistant clinical professor in obstetrics and gynecology at the Yale School of Medicine. Along with a discussion of the findings in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology tests, Ravski discusses types of pregnancy tests and gives some general guidelines to those taking home pregnancy tests or trying to interpret the results.
4. Shape magazine >> Details/Subscribe	The most accurate early-pregnancy tests Sharon Cohen May 2004		Shape includes a short, lay-person-friendly summary of the above study results, noting that First Response is the most sensitive home pregnancy test, detecting 95% of pregnancies on the first day of a missed period, and Clearblue Easy Earliest Results comes in second best by detecting 80% 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 ten minutes instead of the manufacturer-recommended one to three minutes.

Pregnancy Tests Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Pregnancy Tests Ratings Comments on Reviews

5. Fertility Plus	Home Pregnancy Test hCG Levels and FAQ Rebecca Smith Waddell Sept. 14, 2006		This review doesn't address ease of use, but it does include quantitative sensitivity information about a large number of home pregnancy test kits. Manufacturer contact information is also provided. The most sensitive tests listed here detect 15 to 25 mIU hCG. The FAQ section is helpful, with pictures of positive and negative results, as well as comprehensive answers to common (and some uncommon) questions about home pregnancy tests.
6. About.com	Top 7 Pregnancy Tests Robin Elise Weiss, LCCE Not Dated		About.com's Pregnancy/Birth Guide, Robin Elise Weiss, states she tested five home pregnancy tests on a woman who was five weeks, zero days pregnant – yet the title of this review is "Top 7 Pregnancy Tests," and there are indeed seven listed. Clearblue Easy Pregnancy Test is listed but not reviewed, and the other reviews are quite scant. First Response, e.p.t and Fact Plus receive five stars, while Equate from Wal-Mart receives 4.5 stars. The seventh "test" is an online quiz that readers can take entitled "Am I Pregnant?" (Note that ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but is not affiliated editorially.)
7. PeeOnaStick.com	HPT Showdown Megan Clarke Nov. 2005		Using herself as a guinea pig, Megan Clarke, an admitted pregnancy-test enthusiast, tests 15 tests (including two digital tests). Clarke already knows she's pregnant, so 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 what might trigger a false positive. Though lacking in truly scientific testing, this site is entertaining and informative.
8. PeeOnaStick.com	The Secret of the Digital Megan Clarke Aug. 2004		In 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 differ, but there are no ratings or recommendations made.
9. Epinions	Fertility & Pregnancy Tests Contributors to Epinions As of May 2008		Epinions lists dozens of pregnancy tests, but only about two dozen receive owner-written ratings. Tests that do receive ratings get between one to over 40 comments. Clearblue Easy scored the highest of those reviewed by more than 30 people. First Response Early Result is also reviewed by over 30 people and receives a middling rating with women complaining of false positives, a complaint found more with early-result tests. While reviews are interesting to read, none of them are scientific or comparative.
10. Drugstore.com	Pregnancy Tests Contributors to Drugstore.com As of May 2008		Drugstore.com, an online retailer, lists nearly 20 pregnancy tests on its website. More than half of the tests have user comments, with some tests eliciting more than 100 reviews. Of those reviewed by more than 30 people, First Response Early Result had the highest rating, although it was only average. It was followed by Answer Quick & Simple Early Result and e.p.t Pregnancy Test.
11. Baby Hopes	Pregnancy Test – Sensitivity Comparison Editors of Baby Hopes As of July 2007		This retail site sells AimStick, AccuHome and Clearblue home pregnancy tests, but it includes a helpful comparison chart of sensitivity levels of more than 20 brands, similar to Fertility Plus above, except this list appears slightly more up to date. In particular, e.p.t's digital test is included, which detects 50 mIU, compared to e.p.t's Home Pregnancy Test, which detects 40 mIU.
12. MommyGuide.com	Pregnancy Tests Comparison Editors of MommyGuide.com Not Dated		Like some other websites listed here, MommyGuide.com publishes a comparison chart of 51 tests, ranked from most to least sensitive based on calls made to the manufacturers about the amount of hCG detected. Listings also include a website or phone number for the product, mIU level and name and location of the company that produces the product. It is noted that the sensitivity ratings for each product are based on information provided from the manufacturer, as opposed to a lab analysis. No ratings or recommendations are made.
13. JustMommies.com	Pregnancy Test Accuracy Members of JustMommies.com As of May 2008		This website has put together a pregnancy-test accuracy chart with the help of its registered members, asking them to post the results of their own pregnancy tests. Over 30 different tests are listed. After the members take a test, they post how many days past ovulation they received a positive result (eight to 14+). There are also two columns set aside for false positive/evaporated line, or false negative as compared to testing positive with another brand. While it's not the most scientific survey, it's interesting to see that the results consistently match up with reviews on other websites.