How do you use a home Pregnancy Kit?

There are several brands and types of pregnancy tests available in stores, and although they work in slightly different ways, the core concept is the same.

All tests include a plastic stick. Somewhere on the stick there is a substance that reacts when it comes into contact with the hormone. 

To complete the test, you put some urine on the portion of the stick with the reactive substance, wait a certain amount of time, and then check the stick’s result window to see whether the hormone has been detected or not.

Here are some of the most common differences among home pregnancy tests:

1. How to proceed: Some tests instruct you to put the stick under your urine stream. 

Others have you collect the urine in a cup and dip the stick in the cup. 

Yet others require you to collect the urine and then use a dropper to put a few drops of urine on a certain part of the stick.

2. How long to wait: Different tests require different waiting times before the result becomes available.
3. Type of answer: In some tests, a line appearing in the result window means you are pregnant, while in others a positive result is indicated with a plus sign. 

More technologically advanced tests are equipped with a tiny display that shows either Pregnant or Not pregnant.

4. Status: Some tests also have a control indicator, which indicates to the user that the test is working properly.

To make sure you are using the test in the right way, always remember to read the package’s instructions carefully.

If the instructions are unclear, call the help line on the package and clarify all your doubts. Most brands provide a toll-free number for this purpose.