Test Details & Preparation

• Pregnancy Test is done to confirm a pregnancy to help identify an ectopic pregnancy to monitor a pregnancy that may be at risk of failing occasionally to screen a woman for pregnancy prior to some medical treatments as part of a panel of tests used to screen for foetal abnormalities (see First Trimester Down Syndrome Screen and Second Trimester Maternal Serum Screening).


• Pregnancy Test is performed when you suspect that you are pregnant (testing can be done reliably by 10 days after you miss your menstrual period and some methods can detect hCG even earlier) when you have signs and symptoms that suggest you may have an ectopic pregnancy or a pregnancy that is failing prior to some medical treatments.


• A urine sample collected first thing in the morning or a blood sample drawn from a vein in your arm.


• Do not drink large amounts of fluid before collecting urine sample for a pregnancy test because overly diluted urine may result in a false negative no preparation is needed for a blood sample.


• A negative hCG result means that it is unlikely that a woman is pregnant. However, tests performed too early in a pregnancy, before there is a significant hCG level, may give false-negative results. The test may be repeated a few days later if there is a strong possibility of pregnancy.


• A positive hCG means that a woman is likely pregnant.