Urine tests or home pregnancy tests are around 97% accurate when done correctly. The key is to take the test first thing in the morning, with your first urination. The pregnancy hormone, hCG, if there is any, will be at its highest concentration making it more likely that the test will detect it.
Both pregnancy test types detect the presence of a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This hormone is produced by the placenta shortly after the embryo attaches to the uterine lining and builds up rapidly in your body in the first few days of pregnancy. It is this rapid shift in hormones that trigger most of your pregnancy symptoms.
Most at-home tests state you can test as soon as the first day of your expected period. It’s the experience of our nurses and pregnancy educators that when women test within a day or two of their missed periods they may get an inaccurate negative result. We recommend testing after being seven days late.
