HCG levels and Clearblue Easy Digital Pregnancy Test?

[RunningL8]

I think I'm at 15 dpo.  I did two pregnancy tests late today despite the fact that I drank a lot of liquid all day, which I know can throw off an early pregnancy test.  Anyway, I got a definite, though faint pink line on the "Answer" brand of pregnancy test, which can read hcg as low as 25; the line was within the time limit and these Answer tests don't show evaporation lines, so I thought it was a definite positive.  My husband was skeptical, given that it was faint, so three hours later I tried the "Clearblue Easy Digitial" test, which said "not pregnant."  In googling online, I've found different answers as to the hcg levels that can be picked up by the "Clearblue Easy Digital" test.  Does anyone know if this particular test reads hcg at 25 or at 50?  If 50, it may explain the negative result on one and the positive result on the other....

[RunningL8]

Hi Wendy-- I didn't initially see your note here.  (I hate this new format!)  I was definitely not pregnant this cycle, but I will look for the First Response OPK; I like the idea that you can see ovulation day coming.  I'm actually kind of losing hope that I'll get pregnant without donor eggs, but of course there's no harm in continuing to try.  (I even had a dream last night that my RE dropped me after saying he wanted to work only with younger women! :)  We may visit other REs in the area to see what their prices/insurance plans look like for donor ivf, how they screen donors, etc.  I think I'd feel better if I had a more definitive plan in place for the future.  When is your ivf cycle?  I hope you're feeling optimistic and that everything else is going well for you!  

[Zoe2B]

Hi!  I was thinking about you today. Sorry to hear about the rollercoaster you are on! I agree with SHP about First Response Early being a good one. That's what I used when I was pregnant and I got a really faint second line. I called them and they said even a faint line is a positive. Of course, I went in to my RE for a blood test just to be sure. But I would suspect that each company is different with whether a faint line is positive or not. I'm so disappointed for you that you got the 2 negatives afterwards. I'm still crossing my fingers for you and sending you baby dust! I just saw my ob and asked her about the OPK tests. She said to just buy a medium priced one, that the expensive ones aren't any better. I've had great luck with First Response OPK's as well. It's always coincided with other ovulation symptoms, and I've never had a month with no positive. The cool thing about them, is that the second line starts off being invisable, and as the surge gets closer, it keeps gets darker each day until it's as dark or darker than the test line (that's the positive reading), so you can kind of see it coming. At least that's been my experience.  Please keep posting and let us know what's happening.

[RunningL8]

Thanks.  At least my husband was skeptical about the faint line, so he didn't get too excited about it all.  Anyway, I had a bad experience with the Answer brand OPKs; one cycle I never got a positive indication of an LH surge, so we missed "trying" on the right days that month.  I do like the Clear Blue digital ovulation predictor kits--the ones with the smiley face indicating the surge.  They are really expensive, but I figure it costs less than doctor visits or a potential donor ivf cycle.  Where are you at right now in the process?  

[LJ307]

BG-MN, I'm sorry you had to go through that.  I can imagine you must have been struggling with whether or not to get excited after reading a faint positive line.  This process can be agonizing!


I use the Answer brand OPK's.  What is your opinion on their accuracy since the preg. tests are so fickle?

[SHP]

I called the company as I had the same thing happen with me.  They claim that the digital picks up a level of 20 but I don't believe it.  Mine came out negative every time.  Throw those out.  Get the First Response Early result.  Consumer reports or one of those magazines found it to be the most sensitive and so have all of my friends.  It showed first for me before any other brand.  If the line is pink you are pregant.  Remember - there is no such thing as a little bit pregnant.

[RunningL8]

Thanks for your helpful information.  I got 2 more negatives this morning (including on another Answer test), so I think I'm not pregnant (or if I am, the numbers aren't going up like they should).  I'm a little sad, but not unbearably so.  (To Angie:  Yesterday I wrote you a note on your thread about molar pregnancies--I think your numbers look great!  Keep us all posted :) !  

[Brown Eyed Gurl]

I got a pregnant on the clear blue digital with HCG levels of 19 but that was just luck I think.

[40smama]

Perhaps, try a FRER (first response early result)?  That's the one I used at first.  I asked my dh (pharmacist) about the differences in tests & he said even there can be a difference even between the Clear Blue Easy Digitals just themselves.  Some of them for some reason pick up at 25 & then some at 50.  Maybe it's a quality control thing?  Try peeonastick.com for more info.  Good luck!

[AZ Angie]

Nice to have you back!  I read about a survey of OTC HPTs, and the data was not so encouraging.. The results of the research shows that only 44% of all tests are accurate at 100 mcg/ml HCG, even though they claim 99% accuracy.  I would say a very faint pink line means you are somewhere around 25-75.  The study did mention one brand name that performs better than all the rest, but I cannot recall the brand -- although I think it is EPT.  I found the study by googling "home pregnancy test accuracy".  I'll try to find it for you again.  Hope you're well and hopeful.
Angie

[2wonderfulboys]

I thought that the hpt can only pick up hcg if it is over 100, I could be wrong but that is sticking in my mind... The most accurate is the EPT brand, and I would wait a couple more days, I know it's hard but try to wait a little longer... then call your doc if it is pos! good luck to you!!!