Reasons for a False Pregnancy Test Result
Seeing you’re pregnant on the home pregnancy test kit, and then having your doctor tell you otherwise, is a frustrating and confusing experience. Those home pregnancy kits promise 97% accuracy and you did follow the instructions precisely. So what went wrong? Here are the most common reasons why that positive test isn’t positive after all.
- An unknown miscarriage or a chemical pregnancy
This means that a pregnancy has indeed occurred. An egg was fertilized and it implanted itself into the uterine lining, but it did not survive, and them woman experienced a miscarriage (also known as a chemical pregnancy) before she was even aware. It is called a chemical pregnancy because the hormones confirmed the pregnancy but was terminated before any physical symptoms became apparent.
- Failing to read the results within the reaction time
Every home pregnancy test kit has a stipulated reaction period. If you were not able to read the results within this time frame, it is possible that the test may become invalid. Evaporation lines may cause the test to show a false positive result. The most common reaction time is typically five minutes, so be sure to read the test within this time only.
- Drug and chemical reaction and interference
There are some drugs that contain some levels of HCG. As a result, a woman who is taking these drugs may read a false positive pregnancy test, because her body has traces of HCG due to the drug, and not a developing placenta. These drugs are usually treatments for infertility, so if a woman is trying to get pregnant, she may be riddled with these false positive results. It is best to flush the HCG out of her system before trying for a baby.
- Evaporation lines
As the urine evaporates, some liquid crosses over to the line that is supposed to say “pregnant” and stir up a misunderstanding. This is why women should never read beyond the prescribed reaction and reading time.
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