Tests on urine or blood performed to determine whether or not a woman is pregnant. Pregnancy testing kits that are available from pharmacies allow testing to be carried out at home. All of the kits test for the presence of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) in a sample of urine. This hormone is normally produced only by a developing placenta, and therefore the tests are extremely accurate (about 97 per cent accurate for a positive result and about 80 per cent accurate for a negative result), even in early pregnancy. Details for using a test vary with different brands; but all kits involve dipping a test stick that has been treated with a chemical that reacts with HCG into a sample of urine. Blood tests for detecting pregnancy produce a result from 9–12 days after conception.
Pregnancy tests |
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