If you think you’re pregnant, most likely you will go to the local drug store and get an over the counter pregnancy test. These tests are designed to give you fast results and help you find out if you are pregnant or not. When conception occurs, an egg is fertilized. This egg produces a hormone called HCG. The hormone can be found in your urine about 6-10 days after ovulation. Today’s modern pregnancy test has something called monoclonal antibodies, which are designed to be able to detect the presence of HCG in urine. When you urinate on the special strip included in the pregnancy test, it activates the antibodies which cause the strip to change colors. Usually the process takes about two to five minutes to be complete. Those few minutes can be grueling, but well worth the wait to get a determination of pregnancy.
When you buy a pregnancy test, be sure to read all of the included instructions thoroughly, as all tests are not alike. It is important to pay special attention to the testing time as well, since this can be the difference between an accurate and an inaccurate reading. The first morning urine is usually the best to use because the urine is concentrated. This typically provides the most accurate results. If you decide to take a pregnancy test during the day or in the evening, try not to drink too much close before it, or else you may dilute your urine and get results that are not as clear or accurate. A home pregnancy test is a good way to find out if you are pregnant or not, but a follow up test from your doctors is really the best way to find out whether or not you are in fact 100% certain you are pregnant.