Are false positive home test results common?

Question

My period is just over a week and a half late so, as I'm usually very regular, I took a home digital test and it was positive (or rather it said 'pregnant' on the display) After recovering from the shock and picking myself up off the floor, I made an appointment for today with a local clinic to make sure. They did two tests which both came back negative.
Is it common to get false positives on home tests? I absolutely followed the directions and made sure I'd done everything correctly. The clinic has made another appointment for me in two weeks, in case my period still hasn't started by then.

My other half and I always use condoms with spermicide and after he checks that they haven't leaked. If I am pregnant, it happened towards the end of my cycle when I was due to start my period, I know you can get pregnant at any time during your cycle, but realistically what are the chances of it happening then? I'm just wondering if it might just be stress that's causing me to be late!

Oh, and please save the 'the only safe sex is no sex' comments for yourself. I know that, and have always taken responsibility for my actions. I never said in my question that I would regret being pregnant! I just said it would be a shock! As for the stress part, that has to do with certain events that have taken place recently in my life, it has nothing to do with my possibly being pregnant!

Thanks by the way, for all your answers so far!

Answer 1

I think that a positive test is usually a positive test---

Answer 2

I have HAD a negative positive, if that makes sense? Since your doc did two tests and both were negative its pretty safe to say you not prego. Stress is a horrible thing that will screw up our body and hormones so yes, it could definitely be the stress in your life (and now the fact that your stressed about this)

If the hormone level was strong enough to be revealed on your home test it would def show a the doctors office so I would calm down just a tad and Wait for your period to come. Def. go back to your scheduled appt if it hasn't arrived by then.

Conceiving a child at that time in your cycle isn't impossible nor is it rare but your chances are reduced. www.webmd.com
had a great site with Q and A about this stuff... I would check it out. At least you can feel like your proactive while you wait for Aunt Flow.... Sorry to go on but I know how you feel "scares" SUCK!!

Good Luck!

Stephanie

Answer 3

Home pregnancy tests are usually accurate however they are not 100% accurate. There have been cases of false negatives because of testing too early but I haven't heard of false positives. To ensure best results take the test in the morning time. It maybe that your hcg levels are fluctuating. The best thing to do is to just wait until your next doctor appointment. Doctor's pregnancy tests should be more accurate.

Answer 4

False negatives are common. False positives are very rare. Go buy another test and take it at home. If it's positive, there's no way that could be a mistake. Maybe the clinic's tests are old.

Answer 5

False negatives, yes, but never heard of false positives. Its detecting the protein in your urine, so nothing else will make positive except for that. Stress will not make your body start pumping out HCG.

Answer 6

I had a false positive too....well, the same thing happened, but they assumed that I miscarried, and that I had caught it so early that the miscarriage wasn't so noticeable because the baby was so tiny. I would ask them to check though because they also told me a false positive could be signs of other conditions.

Answer 7

You could be pregnant, get another home test and see. I read that the digital test have given out a few false posatives, but this is rare. go to this site, they have the info on the test you took, and info on others, and get another test and see.
http://www.peeonastick.com

Good Luck.

Answer 8

I've never heard of a false positive, only a false negative. The only 100% effective method of birth control is abstinence.

Answer 9

Typically if you have a positive home test the HCG (pregnancy hormone) was in your urine, If your blood test was negative tou may have had a chemical pregnancy. (The hormone is high enough to get a postive test, then the hormones for some reason dissapate causing the blood test and future blood or urine tests to be negative).

Answer 10

I think that the test you had done at the doctors was a less sensitive one than the one you bought. If your test said pregnant then you are definately pregnant.