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When you take a pregnancy test, the control line shows that the test is working, and the test line shows the results. If a second line appears (pink or blue) – even a faint one – the test has detected the pregnancy hormone in your urine. See your healthcare provider to confirm you are pregnant. Sometimes people confuse other lines on pregnancy tests for a positive result. The important thing to look for is a second line that develops color. A shadowy, shiny, colorless mark on a pregnancy test is not a positive. If you’re ever unsure of your pregnancy test result, repeat using another test, or see your doctor. How Does a Pregnancy Test Work?For a quick primer, at-home pregnancy tests check your urine for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin hormone, or hCG, which ramps up quickly in your body after fertilization. The lines on a pregnancy test develop color if hCG is detected. An at-home First Response™ pregnancy test works like this:
Some tests, like First Response™ Early Result Pregnancy Tests, are very sensitive and can detect lower levels of hCG so you can test as early as 6 days sooner.* What is a Control Line on a Pregnancy Test?The control line lets you know the test is working correctly. Every non-digital pregnancy test has two lines that are either parallel to each other or form a plus sign. The control line is not a positive result. If a control line does not appear after exposing the test to urine, the test is not working properly. You should dispose of the pregnancy test and use another one. What is the Test Line on a Pregnancy Test?The test line is the line that appears on an at-home pregnancy test if hCG is detected in your urine. If this line does not change color – turning pink for First Response™ – then the test did not detect hCG and you are most likely not pregnant. In many cases, when you are using a First Response™ test, the test line may be a fainter pink than the control line, which is sometimes quite dark. A test line can be faint pink if your urine is diluted or it’s very early in your pregnancy. Not-to-worry, though. Even a faintly pink-colored test line indicates a positive result. Simply put, if there is color on the test line, it’s time to check in with your doctor to confirm a pregnancy. I’m Still Not Sure if it’s a Faint PositiveFollow these tips for what to do if you’re unsure about your pregnancy test result:
Testing with a First Response Pregnancy TestThere are a variety of First Response pregnancy tests to choose from when you want to see if you are pregnant. The First Response™ Triple Check Pregnancy Test Kit includes three different types of pregnancy tests all in one box. For added assurance, First Response™ Comfort Check Pregnancy Test Pack comes with 3 First Response™ Early Result Tests and 5 First Response™ Pregnancy Test Strips, so you can test early and often. When it comes to your pregnancy test results, you want to know for sure. That’s why we created the First Response™ Easy Read App. Download the app to your phone and scan your First Response™ Early Result or Rapid Result test results. The app will interpret the test lines for you and display the words “Pregnant” or “Not Pregnant.” With the Easy Read App, you won’t be left wondering, “is it a faint positive?” Scan your tests results and get the comfort of certainty. And as always, visit your doctor for confirmation if you suspect a pregnancy test may be positive. * FIRST RESPONSE™ detects the pregnancy hormone 6 days sooner than the day of your missed period (5 days before the day of expected period). In laboratory testing, First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test detected the pregnancy hormone levels in 76% of pregnant women 5 days before their expected period. See package for details about testing early. How faint is too faint on a pregnancy test?HCG is normally only present in your body if you are pregnant. Any positive line, no matter how faint, means your result is pregnant. Levels of hCG in your body will increase over the course of your pregnancy. If you test early, your hCG levels may be still be low and you'll see a faint positive line.
How do you tell if it's a faint positive?Pregnancy tests with blue or pink dye typically show one line if the result is negative and two if hCG is detected, meaning the result is positive. If you get any type of second line, even a faint one, you are pregnant, says Jennifer Lincoln, MD, an obstetrician in Oregon. "A line is a line, whether faint or dark.
Can a very faint line be negative?Drinking a lot of liquid before testing can leave you with a faint positive line, or if you're testing early, even a negative result. It may be easy to think a faint line is a false positive, but it's very, very rare to get a false positive result. You can read more about false positive pregnancy test results here.
How long after a faint positive should I test again?So, if you do get a faint line, Kirkham recommends waiting two or three days, then testing again. If it's still faint, she suggests going to your family doctor for a blood test, which can measure the specific amount of beta hCG, to check if the pregnancy is progressing as it should.
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