Think you might be pregnant? Wondering and waiting to be far enough along to take an at home test can be agonizing. Each day that goes by feels like an eternity when all you can do is look at the pregnancy test box. But how do you know when it is time to take the at home test and which home test is the best? How do you know that your positive results are in fact positive and can a false pregnancy test be wrong? There are many different brands of tests out there and they all vary greatly in price so if you are trying to get pregnant make sure that you are making the right choice as you will probably be buying multiples.

Knowing when it is okay to take an at home pregnancy test all depends on the stick that you buy. Some require that you wait a week or more after you have missed your period and others claim that you can take it before you are even late. Each test measures the hCG level in your urine and the farther along you are, the higher level you will have resulting in a positive test result. So if you take the test too early, you may end up with a negative result when you are in fact pregnant.

At home tests are 99.9% accurate. Generally if you have a positive result you are pregnant. These tests are usually only wrong due to human error or testing too early. If you do get a negative test result but feel that you are or may be pregnant, wait at least a week and test again. Be sure to test first thing in the morning. Your urine is the most potent in the morning and you will have the best chances for accurate results when testing then. If after a week and your test is still showing negative results and you still have not had your normal menstrual cycle, make an appointment with your doctor for a blood pregnancy test.

Tests like Clear Blue, you can take the first day of your missed period and the test displays the words “pregnant” or “not pregnant”, making it simple to read. My personal choice of test is EPT. I used it with both my pregnancies. It is reasonably priced and for under $20 you get two tests in the box. EPT can be used 5 days before your missed period and you also have the option of the “+” or “–“or digital like the Clear Blue. Ultimately it’s up to you but make sure that you read the instructions carefully before using the test to be sure that you are using it correctly. The test can’t help human error.