What is the best pregnancy test for home use?

There is no such thing as the best pregnancy test. The fact is that all pregnancy tests are sensitive when used to detect HCG in urine after 7 days. 

All pregnancy tests for home use measure the hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) in the urine. This hormone is made on the very first day the fertilized egg attaches on to the uterus. The levels of HCG double every other day and by days 5-7, most pregnancy tests can detect HCG in urine. All kits involve using a strip and dipping it into the urine for a few minutes. However, there are some tests that are designed to identify the HCG in the urine the very next day after a successful pregnancy.

In general, tests that can detect HCG after 1-2 days are more expensive than those that detect HCG later. 

All manufacturers claim that their kits are the best and most sensitive for detecting early pregnancy. However, this is not true, as the majority do not identify HCG early in the urine. Recent tests indicates that perhaps the best early pregnancy test is the “First responder Early Result Pregnancy” kit. This test kit can pick up HCG within the first 24 after implantation of the fertilized egg. There is no other kit that comes close.

Two other relative fast and reliable pregnancy kits are the “Answer Quick & Simple” and “Clear Blue Easy”. These two tests also produce reliable results and are sensitive at days 2-4.

Women who would like to know if they are pregnant on the first day after intercourse should know that these early detection tests also cost slightly more. The “first responder early result pregnancy” test costs $19 for two tests. Confirms pregnancy test costs $12 but has a very low sensitivity. The two other most reliable so called “best pregnancy test kits” are Answer Quick & Simple and Clear Blue Easy.

However, women should know that all tests have limitations. Moreover, besides the technical limitation of the tests, there are also variations in pregnancies. Some pregnancies may produce only a low amount of HCG and that may not be detected by any home test. In some cases, even after a fertilized egg has implanted it may then fail and consequently HCG levels will be low.

Experts recommend that women who are comfortable waiting, then the best time to check for a pregnancy is at least a week after unprotected intercourse. At this time period, all most all kits have good sensitivity and are easy to use. Always remember that if you test early, then chances of a false negative are high. If you do test positive then it may mean a viable pregnancy or a pregnancy that may abruptly terminate.