If you have common pregnancy symptoms, like a missed period or nausea, the first step you’ll want to take is a pregnancy test.

Urine-based tests can be purchased at any drugstore, but a blood test requires a doctor’s appointment.

Read this article to learn more about the difference between the two as well as how and when you can trust a test’s accuracy.

Blood vs. Urine Pregnancy Tests

Urine Tests

Urine tests are the most common type of pregnancy test. They are reliable, but you’ll need to take them at the right time for accuracy.

These tests incorporate a responsive strip that identifies hCG, a pregnancy-related hormone. It is advisable to wait at least one week after a missed period to ensure detectable levels of hCG in the urine. When used correctly, most tests claim an accuracy rate of 99%.

You will also want to ensure the test is not expired or defective. 

Blood Tests

Blood pregnancy tests are the way to go if you want even greater reliability and earlier pregnancy detection. Unlike urine tests, they require a visit to the doctor's office for a blood sample to be drawn, and the results are not immediate.

When Should I Take a Pregnancy Test?

Getting a false negative result on a pregnancy test can be frustrating, but if you take it too early, your body may not have had enough time to produce detectable levels of hCG.

We recommend waiting at least a week after your first missed period to take the pregnancy test just to ensure that there are detectable levels of hCG.

At Zoe, A Women's Center, we offer no-cost, medical-grade pregnancy testing and can help you determine the best time to take a test based on your last missed period.

Confirming Your Pregnancy

At our Center, our compassionate team provides you with knowledge and supports you to make an informed decision about your pregnancy. 

Up to 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage. If you take a pregnancy test right after a miscarriage, there will be detectable levels of hCG, giving you a false positive. 

In addition to no-cost pregnancy testing, we also offer limited-obstetric ultrasounds which can provide the viability, gestational age, and location. If the pregnancy is outside of the uterus, this is an ectopic pregnancy and requires immediate medical attention.

You are not alone. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!