When you take a pregnancy test your biggest concern is likely the accuracy of the result. Many people share this worry and it can linger even after they get an answer. While pregnancy tests are generally accurate, they can produce errors. Show
There are several mistakes people make when they take a home pregnancy test that can lead to an inaccurate result. There are two categories of errors when taking a home pregnancy test: those related to timing and those related to interpretation.
Deciding when to take a home pregnancy test used to be simple: you waited until the day you missed your period and then you took a test. Today, you can get a pregnancy test that claims to tell you if you're pregnant before you've missed your period. While these tests can produce an accurate result, it depends on the person. Not every person who is pregnant will have the same levels of hCG in their urine. This error isn't inherent to the test, but rather, the timing of taking the test. Most home pregnancy tests have explicit directions for taking the test and reading the results. The tests will usually give you the exact timeframe in which to look at the test to get your result.
As the urine travels through the indicator window it might look like both lines are present, or that a plus sign is present. However, this does not mean that you are pregnant—it simply means that the test is working. You must wait until the end of the time allotted in the instructions to read the results of your test—which is usually one or two minutes. Use a stopwatch or a timer app on your phone to keep track. While you don't want to read the results of your pregnancy test too early, you also don't want to way too long. If you take a test when you wake up, then hop right in the shower, you might get on with your day without checking the test again. The instructions will usually give you the window in which the test results will be accurate—usually about five minutes. After this time has gone by, the test might produce a faint positive when in fact there was no hCG detected in your urine.
If you've read the results within the timeframe in the instructions and decide to keep the test, don't read into any change in the result in the hours or days after you take it. There are very few instances where a positive pregnancy test is wrong. A false positive pregnancy test is more likely to be caused by user error rather than a problem with the test. A negative result, on the other hand, may happen if you took a test too soon. If you are not pregnant, a false positive pregnancy test result is unlikely. The more likely explanation is that you had a chemical pregnancy (which produces enough hCG to turn a pregnancy test positive but miscarries shortly after) or a very early miscarriage.
If you get a positive pregnancy test, assume that you are pregnant (which includes making an appointment with your health care provider to have the result confirmed). There are some situations where you would want to take another pregnancy test after getting a negative result. If the negative result was unexpected or you still do not have your period within a week of taking the test, you will want to retest. Sometimes, a negative test might not truly be a negative test—it might just be early for the test to turn positive. This is why most pregnancy tests recommend retesting after your body has had more time to produce detectable amounts of hCG in your urine. There are several reasons that home pregnancy tests can produce inaccurate results. The good news is, these errors can be avoided if you follow the instructions carefully. While most errors are related to user mistakes and not a problem with the test itself, purchasing a quality test makes it less likely it will have defects or be expired. If you get a test result that is unexpected, follow the recommendations provided by the test for retaking it (usually within a week). It's also important that you contact your health care provider to confirm the result you get with a home pregnancy test.
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We’re supported by moms. When you buy through links on our site, As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission. Pregnancy is more often than not a time to celebrate. But for some people, the prospect of taking on those parental responsibilities can be too much. There are those that are totally not ready to become parents and may never be. But we all have those friends or partners that playing pranks on is just so satisfying. So why not try the ultimate prank by creating a fake positive pregnancy test? View in gallery We look at some ways to create this false test from simply purchasing a fake test to using soda to create a false positive. Check out below for some creative ideas. How Pregnancy Tests WorkOk, so you know that you want to play this prank on a friend or partner. Now let’s just make sure that you know how these tests work. First of all, not all tests are the same. Most tests want a (+) symbol to appear, but this does vary from product to product. With some tests the symbol is pink, other times there are two lines, while others actually say the word pregnant. So before you try to fake a positive pregnancy test you first need to know what a positive pregnancy test looks like – it is different for each test. Here is an example of a positive pregnancy test that is looking for two lines. Planning AheadIf you want this prank to work then you have to put in some forward planning and preparation work. If you want this prank to really convince someone that you’re pregnant, then you are going to need to start mentioning some of the common pregnancy symptoms such as:
Start by doing it casually, by just dropping hints here and there into conversations. View in gallery For example, if you live with your partner and it is them you are trying to prank, you could tell them that your period is late. But then dismiss it saying it’s probably nothing and it’s normal to be late every now and again. When it comes to nausea and vomiting – most people are not able to fake this well. If you are one of these that can’t make the noises then no need to panic as your smartphone can. So off you go to the bathroom, lock the door and let your phone do the hard work for you. Another good one is to remember to complain about your swollen breasts while crying at the toothpaste advert – mood swings are a definite must-have if you want to successfully fake a pregnancy. Now you just need to wait until your partner suggests that your take the test – and they will! Did you know that soda could help you make a pregnancy test positive? And it’s simple to do! You need to start by preparing a real pregnancy test kit and a small cup of cola – the brand doesn’t matter. Then you simply dip the stick in the soda for a few seconds. The final step is to sit back, wait until the cola moves up the strip and that is when you will the two lines appear. Other Ways To Fake A Positive Pregnancy Test1. Use a fake pregnancy kitIf you want something quick and easy to fake a positive pregnancy test without any work you can purchase a joke pregnancy kit. These kits look like the real thing but they will always come up as positive even if you dip them in tap water. 2. Contaminate with soapA pregnancy test works by testing the level of HCG hormone in a urine sample. But if you are looking to make the test positive no matter what the reality is then you could try adding a little soap or detergent to your urine sample. 3. Use a hairdryerTake your pregnancy test and turn your hairdryer to a high heat setting. Run your pregnancy test under the hairdryer for about 5-10 minutes. Then a positive test result should come up. The positive result should last for around three days giving you plenty of time to get your plan in motion. 4. Use the urine of a pregnant womanA little weird I know. But if you do know someone who is pregnant you could use their urine sample to dip your test in. After about 6 weeks of pregnancy, a woman’s HCG level is very high and this is what will make a pregnancy test come back positive. 5. Use a marker to draw on the testYou could go really DIY and just grab a marker that is the same color as the lines on the test box. Let the test air dry after you urinate on it and then grab something sharp and open the case. Use the marker that you chose to make the test positive. Close the case back up, and all done. 6. Take the test during your monthly periodMany people believe that blood can make a pregnancy test positive by contaminating the urine sample. This is why it may be possible to fake a positive pregnancy test during your monthly period. 7. Use the evaporation linesThere are always evaporation lines next to the positive one and they get darker after they have dried out. It does look like a positive test. You would need to carry out the test and then let it dry for a day or two. This will give you your false-positive result but be quick as the results will start to fade. 8. Use an old testOut-of-date tests often give false positives. But they are quite hard to come by as you will not find these in any stores. You could ask friends if they have any that are out of date. 9. Use an Ovulation Predictor KitThe very last trick you could try is going to depend on how savvy the person you are trying to trick is. But you could do an ovulation predictor test and most people will not be able to tell the difference between one of these and a pregnancy test as they appear extremely similar. To ensure that it works effectively and you get a positive result, do the test between the 12th and 14th day of your cycle. FAQsDoes putting water on a pregnancy test make it positive?If you reuse a strip that has gotten wet wither with water or urine and even if it’s been left to dry, you may still get a false positive. This is due to the fact that as an HPT dries, an evaporation line appears. How can you fake a positive pregnancy test?You could get a false-positive result if you have blood or protein in your urine. Also, certain drugs, such as tranquilizers, anticonvulsants, hypnotics, and fertility drugs could also cause a false positive. The Final ThoughtWe have shared a few different ways in which you can get that false positive in order to carry out your prank. Do remember that not everyone will think that your prank is funny and you should consider that some will find it distasteful. |