Frequently asked questions for Pregnancy Tests

Please always read the instruction leaflet carefully before taking a pregnancy test.

 
Dr Joanna Pike

Reviewed by Dr Joanna Pike on Mar 26, 2020

Frequently asked questions for Pregnancy Tests
  • Can drinking too much liquid affect my result?

    Yes, it’s important not to drink too much of any liquid including water or alcohol before you take a pregnancy test. It’s better to wait until you naturally need to pass urine. This way, you’ll avoid diluting your level of pregnancy hormone and getting a false ‘Not Pregnant’ result.

  • How do Clearblue® Pregnancy Tests work?

    When you are pregnant, your body produces the pregnancy hormone hCG (human Chorionic Gonadotrophin). The level of hCG doubles approximately every 24 hours in the first weeks, reaching a maximum at around 8 to 10 weeks into the pregnancy.

    Clearblue® pregnancy tests work by detecting tiny amounts of the pregnancy hormone in your urine and are over 99% accurate1 from the day you expect your period.

  • When can I test with Clearblue® Pregnancy Tests?

    Clearblue® offers a range of pregnancy tests, now including Clearblue® Early Digital Pregnancy Test and Clearblue® Early Detection Pregnancy Test which can give you results up to 6 days sooner than your missed period.

    If you take a pregnancy test before your expected period and get a ‘Not Pregnant’ result, there is still a chance that you may be pregnant because the level of the pregnancy hormone was not high enough for the pregnancy test to detect. See the Clearblue® Pregnancy Test product pages for details of results of clinical testing with early pregnancy.

  • Do I need to use first morning urine?

    If testing from the day you expected your period, you can take a pregnancy test with urine from any time of the day. If testing before your expected period, use the first urine of the day. Avoid excessive fluid intake before testing. Always read the leaflet before testing.

  • My test says I’m pregnant. What should I do?

    If your test says you are pregnant (positive result), see your doctor for advice on what to do next.

  • My test says I’m not pregnant. What should I do?

    You may not be pregnant (negative) or the level of pregnancy hormone may not yet be high enough to be detected, or you may have miscalculated the day you expect your period.


    If you tested early, take a pregnancy test again when you expect your period.


    If your period is overdue, take a pregnancy test again in 3 days’ time. If this test gives you a ‘Not Pregnant’ (negative) result and you still have not had your period, see your doctor.

  • I previously tested ‘Pregnant’ but have tested again and got a ‘Not Pregnant’ result, or my period has started. What does this mean?

    All Clearblue® pregnancy tests are over 99% accurate at detecting the pregnancy hormone from the day of the expected period1. If you get a positive result, you can be confident that you are pregnant. However, it’s possible to get a positive result and find out later that you are no longer pregnant (i.e. you may later get a negative result, or your period may start). Natural loss during the early stages of pregnancy, known as ‘early pregnancy loss’, is not uncommon – in fact around 1 in 4 pregnancies end in early pregnancy loss. This can be an upsetting experience that happens to a lot of people, but most women can go on to have a healthy pregnancy after an early loss.

  • Can any medication or medical conditions affect the results?

    • Always read the manufacturer’s instructions for any medication you are taking before taking a pregnancy test.
    • Fertility drugs containing hCG (such as Pregnyl® and Profasi®3) can give misleading results (these fertility drugs are usually given by injection, and testing too soon after administration may give a false 'Pregnant' result).
    • Other fertility therapies, painkillers and hormonal contraceptives (e.g. contraceptive pill) should not affect the result. However, if you have recently stopped taking hormonal contraception or are using fertility therapies, your periods may be irregular, leading you to test too soon.
    • If you have recently been pregnant (even if not carried to full term) you may get a false ‘Pregnant’ result.
    • Ectopic pregnancy, ovarian cysts, menopause and some very rare medical conditions can give misleading results.

    If you do get unexpected results you should discuss them with your doctor.

  • How do I read my result?

    If using a Clearblue® Digital Pregnancy Test, your ‘Pregnant’ (positive) or ‘Not Pregnant’ (negative) result will be displayed in words on the display screen.

    If using a traditional Clearblue® Pregnancy Test, your ‘Pregnant’ (positive) or ‘Not Pregnant’ (negative) result will be shown in the result window as a clear + or – result.

    See Clearblue® Pregnancy Test product pages for more information on specific products.

  • How accurate are Clearblue® Pregnancy Tests?

    All Clearblue® Pregnancy Tests are more than 99% accurate in laboratory tests, when used from the day you expect your period to start1.

  • I have recently had a miscarriage or termination and I think I might be pregnant again. When should I do a Clearblue® Pregnancy Test?

    After a miscarriage or termination, it can take several weeks for the pregnancy hormone hCG to disappear from the body. If you take a pregnancy test during this time, it’s impossible to know if a ‘Pregnant’ (positive) result is caused by a new pregnancy or by hCG from your previous pregnancy. In this case, we would recommend that you contact your doctor.

  • I have recently had a baby and think I might be pregnant again. When should I do a Clearblue® Pregnancy Test?

    After giving birth, hCG may take several weeks to return to normal levels. If you take a pregnancy test during this time, it’s impossible to know if a “Pregnant” (positive) result is caused by a new pregnancy or by hCG from your previous pregnancy. In this case, we would recommend that you contact your doctor.

  1. >99% accurate at detecting typical pregnancy hormone levels. Note that hormone levels vary. See insert.
  2. Clearblue® Early Digital and Clearblue® Early Detection provide early detection of the pregnancy hormone (hCG).
    Clearblue® Early Digital: 78% of pregnancies can be detected 6 days before the missed period (5 days before the expected period).
    Clearblue® Early Detection: 77% of pregnancies can be detected 6 days before the missed period (5 days before the expected period).
  3. Pregnyl® is a registered trademark of Organon USA Inc. Profasi® is a registered trademark of Ares Trading S.A.
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