When choosing a test, make sure it is not expired, think about the day you’d like to test (early or after a missed period), and know how you’d like to read the results. Digital readers can make things more simple by translating your results to text, like “Not Pregnant” or “Pregnant.” If you have more experience with pregnancy tests, test strips with line results are typically cheaper and come with more in the package. We spoke with childbirth experts and reviewed pregnancy tests and test kits from the top brands for accuracy, speed, early detection, and price. Here, the best pregnancy tests available today. Not to mention, it is compatible with the free, EasyRead app for further confirmed reassurance of your results. And speaking of the results, with the First Response Early Result pregnancy test having over 99 percent accuracy, the brand has garnered something like a cult following of women who have returned with each new believed conception. And while it should be mentioned that this at-home pregnancy test scored 4.7 out of 5, only due to cost in light of the occasional one (digital) out of three testers in its package giving a different read, one can bet that the overall lot is accurate time and time again. Price at time of publication: $15 Number of tests: 3 | Display method: Line test (word option through the app) | Result time: 3 minutes Price at time of publication: $10 Number of tests: 25 | Display method: Line test | Result time: 5 minutes Price at time of publication: $12 Number of tests: 3 | Display method: + / - | Result time: 1 minute Once your result is ready, you’ll see either “Pregnant” or “Not Pregnant” clearly on the screen, so there’s no need to interpret any lines, symbols, or colors. Bonus: if you get a positive result, the test will display “Pregnant” for six months so you can show it off to excited loved ones. Price at time of publication: $16 Number of tests: 3 | Display method: Words (“Pregnant”/“Not Pregnant”) | Result time: 1-3 minutes Price at time of publication: $13 Number of tests: 40 | Display method: Line test | Result time: 5 minutes Price at time of publication: $27 Number of tests: 20 pregnancy / 100 ovulation | Display method: Line | Result time: 5 minutes
What to Look for in a Pregnancy Test
Display Method
Most home pregnancy test kits work by having a slip of paper that reacts by changing color when hCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin (the pregnancy hormone), is present. Or in the case of digital pregnancy tests, when hCG is present, the “Pregnant” sign lights up, but it’s still doing so because the pregnancy test detected hCG, says Robin Elise Weiss, PhD, MPH. If you are worried about your ability to read a pregnancy test, you may wish to consider a digital test. This is a simple readout that says “Not Pregnant” or “Pregnant.” A strip test will have two lines, either parallel or in the form of a plus for pregnant, or one line vertical (instead of two lines) or a negative sign instead of a plus sign. Check the instructions on how to read the test. Read the pregnancy test within the designated time frame to avoid false positives due to evaporation lines. Typically any color change in the area of the second line would indicate the presence of hCG and therefore a positive test. The two lines may differ in color, but the test can still be positive.
Cost
Pregnancy test kits vary from just under a dollar for bulk purchases without lots of packaging to over $25 for a single pregnancy test (typically a digital, early-pregnancy test with lots of packaging and a toll-free number). How much you pay for your test is not typically correlated with how well it works, Dr. Weiss mentions. So even if you decide to go for a test with more instructions and support, you can still save a lot of money by purchasing test kits that include multiple pregnancy tests. If you can’t spend the money on a home-pregnancy test, there are places to get free pregnancy tests, as well. Be sure you know who is doing the test and what their credentials and motives are for testing. In short, the difference lies in the test’s ability to detect smaller amounts of hCG. More expensive tests might tell you if you are pregnant earlier, have a digital reader, or boast a well-designed plastic holder.
Expiration Date
No matter which brand of test or type of home pregnancy test you choose, be sure you check the expiration date on the pregnancy test box. The biggest error people get when testing for pregnancy is using expired pregnancy tests. If you are buying your pregnancy tests online and in bulk, be sure that you know the tests you’re purchasing are not expired or are about to expire. And if you don’t take all of the tests this pregnancy, you can usually save the other tests for a couple of years—hence why checking for the expiration date is so important.
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Deanna McCormack is a freelance writer and copywriter who covers lifestyle, parenting content for a variety of platforms. She’s a mom of two kids under the age of 3, and spends time outside her work researching, reviewing, and testing products made for modern families. A blood pregnancy test also looks for the hormone hCG, though it screens your blood. These are ordered by your doctor or midwife. Blood pregnancy tests aren’t typically the go-to method for doctors or medical professionals when confirming a pregnancy. Even if you go to your doctor’s office for a pregnancy test, the vast majority of them will offer you a urine test. In reality, a blood test, at the earliest, will detect minuscule amounts of hCG about seven to 10 days after conception (not ovulation), and a urine or home-pregnancy test kit will begin to see some positives 12 to 14 days after conception. You can use an early home-pregnancy test kit, though it’s recommended to not start until at least 12 days post-ovulation. You may still receive a false negative if your timing is off. If you have a positive pregnancy test, you will want to schedule an appointment with your doctor or midwife. They will guide you further in how to care for your pregnancy. They will also be the person with whom you can share concerns or ask questions, even prior to your appointment. You should repeat a test that is negative prior to the start of your period. It is best to wait at least two days to test to give your body a chance to build-up to the hCG needed to turn the test positive. You should also repeat it if your period does not start after a couple of days to a week. Katrina Cossey has been a digital content producer and news and feature writer for more than six years. She’s covered topics ranging from local and national news, as well as writing and researching parenting content. Katrina is a parent herself and used the Clearblue Rapid Detection Pregnancy Test to determine when she was expecting her own little one. She appreciated the pregnancy test’s easy-to-read display screen and wide tip for easy use.
