Re: False Positives on home pregnancy tests

Posted By hfhs.md.rcs on July 14, 1998 at 12:45:13:

In Reply to: False Positives on home pregnancy tests posted by Mimi on July 13, 1998 at 13:56:27:






Two months ago I tested positive for pregnancy on the first day I missed
my period.  I retested the next day and the test was again positive. AFter
I got my period a week late (I thought I was having a miscarriage), the
doctor told me that these were probably false positives caused by some
hormone secreted by another gland.  I'm trying to conceive and am wondering
if I am especially prone to having another false positive (is this something
my body will do every month)?  At what point do I not have to worry about
a false positive.  If I do test positive, should I ask the doctor to perform
a blood test to confirm?  I would rather not wait an extra week or two to
know if I am pregant, I lost a baby recently and am already under enough
stress.  
Dear Mimi:
In women who have taken some types of "fertility drugs", the pregnancy test is not reliable around the time of the missed menstrual period. Although some tissues in a non-pregnant lady can secrete human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG, the pregnancy hormone that turns the test positive), the levels are usually so low they are not detected by a home test.
We now know that one-half of all "conceptions" (fertilized eggs) do not go forward as developing pregnancy. Within this group, a proportion are recognized as "a chemical pregnancy" (a pregnancy in which there is a positive pregnancy test and no other signs or symptoms). Another group are recognized as a delayed menstrual period. Finally, there is the group that is a "traditional miscarriage" in which the pregnancy has been identified by tests such as an ultrasound study.
If you experience a positive home pregnancy test 3 days after your missed menstrual period, arrange a confirming blood test with your physician.
Keywords: home pregnancy test.
This material is provided for information purposes onlyand is not a medical consultation. If you have specific questions, please contact your physician.