A positive pregnancy test can trigger several emotions at once. It can feel exciting, unexpected, confusing, or stressful. On the other hand, a false positive on a pregnancy test can cause unnecessary emotional distress, especially when someone is not prepared for the pregnancy or is trying to conceive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A false-positive pregnancy test means the test shows a positive result even when you are not pregnant. This is uncommon, as most new home pregnancy tests are highly accurate when used correctly. Still, in rare cases, pregnancy hormone levels can remain elevated due to certain health conditions or an early pregnancy loss. This, in turn, can lead to an incorrect test result. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This article discusses the chances of a false-positive on pregnancy test and its possible causes. Further, you will learn the next steps and how to prevent false positives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The chance of a false-positive pregnancy test is low, usually less than 1% when used as directed. Most home pregnancy test brands report around 99% accuracy in detecting pregnancy after a missed period<\/a>, making a positive result generally reliable in most situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These tests give reliable results by detecting human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) in urine. HCG is primarily produced by the placental cells during pregnancy. The results appear as plus\/minus signs, words like pregnant, or lines. Even a faint line is considered positive, as hCG levels are initially low in early pregnancy, then double every 2 days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore, false positives are rare since pregnancy tests are developed to only react to hCG, but, sometimes, certain factors like reading the test too late or fertility medications can mislead. <\/p>\n\n\n