Signs for an EPT Test

When a woman thinks she may be pregnant, she wants an accurate result as quickly as possible. However, it typically takes six to 12 days past ovulation (DPO) before a fertilized egg implants. And after implantation, it takes time for the level of the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) to rise to a level that a pregnancy test can detect. The earliest a woman might test positive on a very sensitive pregnancy test is seven DPO, but usually it takes longer than that. Using the sensitive EPT pregnancy test increases a woman's odds of getting an accurate result at the earliest possible date.

  1. Testing

    • Consumers can purchase two versions of the EPT pregnancy test: the regular EPT test, which displays the results with lines, and a digital test, which displays the results with words. To use either of the tests, hold the absorbent tip in your urine for five to 15 seconds, depending on what the instructions that came with your specific test recommend. Lay the test flat, wait at least two to three minutes and read your results. Testing first thing in the morning, when HCG has had time to build up in your urine, increases the odds of an accurate result.

    Errors

    • The regular EPT test has two windows, a square one for the control line and a round one for the pregnancy result. If no line appears in the control window, you have an invalid test. With the EPT digital test, an error message in the oval results window indicates an invalid test. Invalid results may be due to either too little urine to cause the necessary chemical reaction or too much urine, which oversaturates the test. You can avoid these problems by urinating in a cup and dipping your test strip.

    Negative

    • With the regular EPT test, a "minus" sign in the round results window indicates a negative result. On the digital EPT, a negative result is indicated with the words "Not Pregnant." While EPT tests are sensitive enough to use five days before you miss your period, you may still get a "false negative" if you test before HCG has had enough time to build up in your system. Many women testing this early may need to test again later for an accurate result.

    Positive

    • On a regular EPT test, a blue plus sign in the round display window means you are pregnant, even if the vertical line in the "plus" is very light. A digital EPT indicates a positive result with the word "Pregnant." You can trust most positive results. However, you may get a false positive if you took a fertility medication that contains HCG or recently gave birth or had a miscarriage. You may also have a false positive if the vertical line in the plus sign appears after 10 minutes or has no color, indicating an "evaporation" line.

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