Best Home Pregnancy Tests For Fast & Accurate Results (2020 Guide)
Let's face it: when you take a home pregnancy test, you only want to take just one!
I can’t tell you what a nail-biting experience it is while you wait for your results, and so I was glad that I had a very high quality, highly rated, and very effective test to use.
I never felt the need to take another test, unlike some of my friends, whose test results were unclear and inconclusive.
Read on to learn all about what makes a great pregnancy test, the brands I recommend, and how to take one, so you have total peace of mind during this nerve wracking process!
Important Features to Consider
Easy to use. Who wants to fumble around with a pregnancy test? In my opinion, it should be easy to use, with very few directions to read. After all, who can really concentrate moments before taking a test? Part of being easy to use includes the test’s shape. Because you get the most accurate response when holding a test strip under a running “stream,” I found that tests that have the strip exposed on the end are easiest to use. A grounded gripper also ensured I wouldn’t drop the test or shift it around while I went.
Clear results. Choose something that spells out, “Pregnant” or “Not Pregnant.” Lines are nice, but I can’t tell you how many women I’ve talked to told me they had one solid line, and half of a blurry line, which led them to further testing (some even with a blood test). Clear results are just what you need so you don’t think your eyes are playing tricks on you.
Quick response. You should choose a test that gets you a response under five minutes or faster. The suspense is sometimes too much too take, and with a great test’s technology, there is no reason you’d have to wait long to find out if it’s positive or negative.
Early response. Some tests are designed to detect a pregnancy sooner than others. I say, the earlier the better! Opt for a test that can give you a positive result a few days before your missed cycle. Anything more than a few days before may not be totally accurate and can lead to a false test.
Cost. Pregnancy tests can be expensive, but they don’t have to be. You should budget about $15 for a test that is reliable and accurate. Anything more than that is unnecessary. Plus, many trustworthy brands sell their tests in a multi-pack, so take advantage of a bulk discount when you can!
How Does A Pregnancy Test Actually Work?
So, you’re probably wondering about the science behind a pregnancy test.
Actually it’s pretty interesting.
They work by checking for the presence of a hormone, and this hormone is called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and it’s found in your urine.
What makes this hormone?
Cells that develop in your uterus!
As soon as a fertilized egg implants in your uterine lining, it officially enters your blood stream. It shows up about six days after the egg gets fertilized, which is why some pregnancy tests can detect it sooner than others.
Once your egg gets fertilized, the amount of hCG in your system grows quickly.
It actually doubles every other day until it hits a certain number, which is able to be picked up by a test.
So, when you are getting a positive reading, now you know why!
How To Take A Pregnancy Test
As you know from the reviews, there are two ways to take a non-blood pregnancy test.
The first thing you can do is pee and hold the test strip in your stream for at least five seconds (be sure to drink plenty of water before your test!).
You can also urinate into a cup (sterilized-provided by the test) and using a provided dropper, place some of the urine from the cup on the test strip.
You should take a test a day or so before your missed period.
Some women prefer to take a test actually after they are due for the most official report (in case the egg was fertilized later on in the cycle).
You should never touch the test strip, urine, or message reader on the test.
This could skew results.
Finally, wait about five minutes before checking to see if you’ve received a reading (use the result key provided in whatever test you choose).
And, that’s it!
A pregnancy test is pretty simple and straightforward.
Best Home Pregnancy Tests
#1. First Response Pregnancy Test
When I was trying to get pregnant, First Response (click here to check the price on Amazon) was my go-to pregnancy test.
Not only do I love this brand, I also love that you can get not one, not two, but three tests for a pretty great price.
The First Response test is over 99% accurate from the day you are expected to begin your cycle.
But, it's also able to detect a pregnancy about six days sooner than your cycle would begin.
I personally always wanted to make sure I wasn’t getting a false result, but I know a number of women who utilized this feature and it worked out for them!
I like how it has a curve for your hand to hold it comfortably and its tip is wide so it’s pretty hard to miss!
You can also expect a read in about three minutes, which is pretty neat.
All in all, it’s a best seller for a reason, so check it out.
Another awesome and uber-popular pregnancy test is made by Clearblue (click here to check the price on Amazon).
It's sold in a three pack for a pretty good price, so in my opinion, it’s affordable and from a name you can trust when you need accurate results.
I like Clearblue's test because it has smart technology that shows you the test is working, thanks to its countdown that you can see on its window.
It can be slightly terrifying to watch, but at least you can get an answer quickly!
It has a handy flood guard, which helps prevent any errors from occurring during the test.
And, it’s wide wick is ultra-absorbent, leaving your “test” area clean and without drips or a mess.
Like the other tests, it’s about 99% accurate and can be used about five days before your missed period.
It will spell out pregnant or not pregnant as well, so there’s no confusion with lines during this emotional time.
#3. Easy @ Home Pregnancy Test
I recommend these Easy @ Home pregnancy tests mainly for their terrific value (click here to check the price on Amazon).
You may be thinking that for their great price, that maybe they aren’t as effective, but compared to many top brands, they do a great job in letting you know if you’re pregnant or not.
They are easy to use and they take a slightly different approach. Instead of urinating on top of the strip, you collect a sample in a cup and use a dropper (you’ll totally feel like a scientist) to put a small amount on the HCG test strip.
You’ll still get a quick response (3-5 minutes), and the results are just as accurate (99.8%) as other major tests on the market.
You can only detect a possible pregnancy a day before your missed cycle, but this actually helps you get more accurate results.
If for any reason you aren’t happy, you can also get a refund from the company!
Wrapping Up
The days (or even minutes) leading up to a pregnancy test is crucial.
I know I wanted the most reliable and effective test out there to get me the answer I needed to know.
These tests are perfect to stock up on if you are trying to conceive!
