Whether you are deciding which pregnancy test to take or already have a result in hand, knowing how urine and blood pregnancy tests compare gives you a clearer picture of what each one can and cannot tell you.
Schedule a free, confidential appointment at A Women’s Pregnancy Center in Tallahassee today if you want to take a urine test.
What Both Tests Detect
Both test types measure hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), the hormone your body produces after a fertilized egg implants in the uterus.
Urine Pregnancy Tests
Urine tests are the most widely used option. They detect hCG in a urine sample and return a positive or negative result. Taken correctly after a missed period, they are approximately 99 percent accurate.
Testing too early is the leading cause of a false negative. Hormone levels take time to rise after implantation. Testing with the first morning urine, when the concentration is highest, can improve accuracy.
Blood Pregnancy Tests
Blood tests are ordered by a healthcare provider and processed in a lab. Because they can detect lower concentrations of hCG, they can identify pregnancy as early as six to eight days after conception.
Two types exist:
- Qualitative: confirms whether hCG is present
- Quantitative: measures the exact amount of hCG in the bloodstream
Quantitative tests are typically ordered to monitor hCG levels more closely, such as when investigating a possible ectopic pregnancy or a pregnancy at risk for miscarriage. For most women, a urine test is sufficient.
We do not offer blood pregnancy tests, but we do refer them.
After a Positive Result
A positive test confirms hCG is present. It does not tell you how far along the pregnancy is, where the pregnancy is located, or whether the pregnancy is developing normally. A limited ultrasound provides those answers.
A Women’s Pregnancy Center offers free pregnancy testing and ultrasounds.
All services are confidential and available at no cost. Schedule your free, confidential appointment today. Call or text (850) 297-1174.