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OPK as HPT? Got 2 Super Dark Tests

It's 12:15 a.m. here in Boston and for the 3rd night in a row I can't sleep. Before we got into bed, I decided to do an OPK as an HPT since I have the tube of 20 and a whole bunch left over. It came out super dark within a couple of minutes, so I did another one and same thing. Then I decided to do a FRER HPT and it came out negative, not even a hint of a line. Tomorrow is 12 dpo and I got a positive on 12 dpo last year. I can't help but think the OPK's must be right because they were so dark. They weren't pink, they were plum red.

I'll let you know what happens in the morning.

~Sue
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Avatar universal
Well I went threw the same thing with opk. I got bright red even on 14dpo and I turned out not to be pregnant. I definetly think you should go with the hpt!
Helpful - 0
562884 tn?1279632334
I also tested this theory out, I had a neg OPK, when I got my pos. FR. but 2 days later my OPK was positive, thats when I knew my numbers must have been going up! I hope You get that BFP on the FRER!!!! I still think it could be early so just keep that in mind! :)
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178239 tn?1277405491
I hate to be the one to say it. An hpt (especially frer) would be positive b4 an opk as an hpt would be. :(  We do get random Lh surges, even in the tww that can make an opk be pos.  I tried it out on 2 separate occasions and it took the opk 2-3 days longer to be bfp on opk than the frer. I really want it to be a bfp for you Sue. But, I don't want you to get your hopes to be crashed. Here is a clip from poasdotcom that tells how it works.

OPK's as HPT's:
using an ovulation test to confirm pregnancy



Overall-- yes, it can be done. Ovulation predictor tests (known as OPK's because they are normally sold in a set of tests known as a "kit," thus the K) will show a positive result when a woman is pregnant, as well as when she's ovulating.

Specifically-- while it works most of the time, there are good reasons to avoid using an OPK as an HPT for diagnostic purposes. If you want to pee on any stick that will stand still after you know you're pregnant, just for fun, have at it. But I would not recommend using an OPK in place of an HPT overall.

Reasoning-- OPK's detect LH (luteinizing hormone) which is the hormone associated with ovulation. Pregnancy tests detect hCG, the hormone associated with pregnancy. LH and hCG are, at a molecular level, nearly identical. hCG has a beta subunit, meaning it has an extra little "doodad." To use a stupid but easy to understand example, LH and hCG are identical twins, except that hCG wears a funny hat.





An OPK tests only for the part of the molecule that LH and hCG have in common (the "face" or "body" of the identical twins.) Essentially an OPK is saying:




So an OPK will turn positive when it detects either of the "identical twins"-- ovulation or pregnancy hormone.

The reverse is not true, however, because an HPT tests for the part of the molecule that is unique to hCG (the "hat.") So an HPT would say:



Therefore, a pregnancy test will turn positive only in the presence of hCG, whereas an OPK will turn positive in the presence of hCG or LH.


Now, it's important to note that OPK's work differently than HPT's. A pregnancy test will develop 2 lines only if hCG (pregnancy hormone) is detected. Thus, "a line is a line" when determining a positive HPT. OPK's work differently. An OPK has a "control" line and a "test" line, just like an HPT. Unlike an HPT, however, the mere presence of a "test" line does not mean the test is positive. The test line must be as dark as, or darker than, the control line to be a positive result (meaning that a surge was detected, rather than the ordinary amount of LH usually found in your urine every day.)

This means that there is already some ambiguity involved in reading an OPK's results. Sometimes the line is almost as dark as the control line, but perhaps not quite as dark. Sometimes only the edge turns dark, or the top half of the line is darker than the bottom.

Additionally, OPK's are not as sensitive as a lot of HPT's are. This means that, if pregnant, you are likely to get a positive HPT earlier than you would get a positive OPK.

Helpful - 0
369912 tn?1229650090
mmm...i have no idea.  i know they are different than an hpt but...
i wish you the best of luck with first morning poas!  that might be the only thing,
although remember that 12dpo is still too early for some women.
i'm wishing you the best of luck.  
good luck good luck good luck
Helpful - 0
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