pregnancy test
definition
The commercially available pregnancy test works by detecting the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in the woman's urine, which is only produced during pregnancy.
Depending on the sensitivity of the test, the result is positive as early as eight days or about two weeks after conception. These rapid urine tests / pregnancy tests are available in pharmacies and sometimes also in drugstores. These are offered particularly cheaply in internet pharmacies.
Furthermore, the doctor can quantitatively prove the hormone in the blood. This means that the progress of the pregnancy can also be assessed.
Application and principle of operation
The urine test strip should be held in the morning urine during a pregnancy test, as the HCG concentration is particularly high here.
After contact with the urine, you usually have to wait a few minutes for the result. During this time, in the case of pregnancy, HCG that is present binds to a specific antibody and moves with it as a complex on to the test area of the strip. Another specific antibody is fixed here, which stains the complex in the event of pregnancy and thus creates a colored stripe on the pregnancy test.
Remnants of the first, mobile antibody migrate on the strip again until they hit the control area. An antibody against the antibody is fixed here, so to speak, which stains it and thus creates another colored stripe.
While the first stripe is only visible in the event of pregnancy, the second stripe must always be visible and is used to check that the test is working correctly.
Disadvantages of the pregnancy test
A little patience is required for using the pregnancy test, as it can give information about pregnancy after eight days at the earliest and even then it can still give false negative results.
Furthermore, the pregnancy test can also be false positive. This means that it indicates a pregnancy without actually being present. This can be done in the presence of special types of cancer (Germ cell tumors), as these also produce the pregnancy hormone HCG.
Clearblue® pregnancy test
A popular pregnancy test is made by the company Unilever represented and called Clearblue. This rapid urine test advertises easy handling, a quick result and 99% security. The test can be purchased in pharmacies and drug stores.
You can find detailed information on the topic at: Clearblue®
Alternatively offers Unilever also offer an ovulation test, which shows the woman's most fertile days and can thus help to maximize the likelihood of pregnancy.
Read more on the topic: Clearblue® ovulation test
Further test options
The gynecologist assesses a possible pregnancy by palpating the abdomen with both hands and performing an ultrasound scan from around the sixth week of pregnancy.
