Home Pregnancy Tests

• Buy an early results home pregnancy test from your local pharmacy or grocery. The tests are relatively inexpensive and come packaged as a single test or in multiples. It is advisable to buy a multi-pack box, especially if you are planning to test early, as you may need to repeat the test to ensure an accurate result.
  
  

Timing in Your Cycle

• Read the instructions on the box to determine when the test should be taken. This can differ between manufacturers with some recommending testing as much as five days before a missed period while others recommend waiting until the period has been missed.
  Know when you ovulated to determine the earliest possible time to test for an accurate result. This can be accomplished by charting the cycle or by using ovulation prediction tests. According to the American Pregnancy Association, implantation occurs six to 12 days after fertilization. This is when the body begins to produce hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) also known as the pregnancy hormone. This is the hormone that the pregnancy test detects to predict pregnancy.
  
  

Early Morning Testing

• Take the test as soon as you wake up on the day calculated by knowing your ovulation. Your urine is more concentrated at this time and has a higher probability of containing enough hCG to produce a positive result if you are pregnant. Urinate directly on the absorbent tip of the pregnancy test according to the package instructions. If you prefer, you can urinate in a clean cup and dip the absorbent tip into the sample for the specified time.
  Replace the cap on the absorbent tip and place the test on a flat surface. Wait the allotted amount of time as specified by the manufacturer's instructions before reading the test. Reading the test too soon or waiting too long can cause a false reading. When the appropriate amount of time has elapsed, retrieve the test and compare the results window to the pictures included in the instructions. Pay close attention when comparing as the positive and negative indicators differ by manufacturer. Even a faint positive sign counts as a positive.
  
  

When to Retest

• If you get a false result, wait a few days and test again. It is possible that there was not enough hCG in your system yet to be detected by the test. Although a false positive can happen, it is rare. It is more likely to get a false negative than a false positive.