Is it possible to have a false positive pregnancy test

Sometimes medical conditions can trigger a false-positive in urine tests. If you get a false-positive test result and have ruled out other causes, consult a medical professional to test for these conditions. Your doctor may recommend a blood test to get a more accurate test result. If the pregnancy test instructions were not followed precisely, sometimes an evaporation line can be mistaken for a positive.

For the line tests, sometimes, a faint-colored second line appears. This may represent an early pregnancy or may simply be an evaporation line. If you read the test after the recommended time in the instructions, the results might be a false-positive since the evaporation line may show up more clearly.

Each test brand has specific instructions, so follow them closely. Like most consumer goods, pregnancy tests expire and are sometimes used wrong. Using a test incorrectly or using an old one can lead to a false-positive result.

Here are a few tips to avoid user error:. Diluted urine from excessive water-drinking can affect the accuracy of the test. Set a timer to keep track. The next two points are unique in that they indicate the presence of BhCG in the body so they are technically accurate in giving a positive result.

However, an ectopic or chemical pregnancy sadly is not viable. As the pregnancy grows, it can cause the tube to burst rupture. A rupture can cause major internal bleeding. This can be a life-threatening emergency that needs surgery. If you think you have an ectopic pregnancy, or have a positive pregnancy test paired with severe pain on one side of the lower abdomen and spotting, seek immediate medical help as soon as possible. A chemical pregnancy is a miscarriage that happens before week five of the pregnancy when an embryo implants in your uterus but it never takes hold.

Here's everything you need to know about why that second line might appear when you're not actually pregnant. By Brianna Bell December 4, I put it out of my mind until my cycle-tracking app alerted me that my period was a few days late—at which point I threw my three kids in our minivan and raced to the store for a pregnancy test.

Back home, as my toddler tapped incessantly on the bathroom door, I watched as a faint second line appeared. My husband had undergone a vasectomy three years earlier. Over the next few days, the shock settled and turned into excitement. Then, nearly a week later, I started cramping and bleeding. My doctor asked me to head to the hospital. Hours after waiting in the ER, a mandatory mask covering my fear and worry, the physician finally entered my room.

Though they may buy in bulk to get a better price, the technology is essentially the same, but perhaps with a few less fancy plastic wrappers. If they think that there is an issue with the urine test you used at home, they may opt to try a urine test in the office, or they may go straight to a blood pregnancy test.

This would usually then be repeated to tell what the exact numbers were and whether it was going up or down in the two tests. This can give you a better idea of if you had a false positive or if it was a fluke from the test itself. If you have had a false positive on a pregnancy test - you will either wait for another cycle to try to get pregnant or will find out later in this cycle that you are pregnant, just weren't pregnant enough at the time of the original test.

I felt a bit foolish. Turns out two weeks later - I really was pregnant. One urine test was right, the other wrong. Get diet and wellness tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy.

False-positive urine pregnancy tests--clinicians as detectives. Pan Afr Med J. J Clin Med Res. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellFamily. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.

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