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Home pregnancy test

Home pregnancy tests use a sample of a woman's urine to detect the presence of a hormone (called human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG) that is only produced during pregnancy. If the test is positive for the hormone, it usually means the woman is pregnant.

These tests are available without a prescription, and their accuracy varies. If used correctly, the best tests can detect hCG as early as the first day of a missed menstrual period (about 14 days after conception). A first morning urine sample (which has accumulated in the bladder overnight) provides the most accurate test results.

Author Jeannette Curtis
Author Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Editor Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Editor Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor Tracy Landauer
Associate Editor Pat Truman
Primary Medical Reviewer Patrice Burgess, MD
- Family Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer Adam Husney, MD
- Family Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer Kathleen Romito, MD
- Family Medicine
Last Updated May 25, 2007

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: May 25, 2007
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