False Positives?

Question

I never have understood false positives... Thursday I went into a clinic for a urine test. I tested positive twice but it was really weak (hence why they did it twice), I was late by 4 days. They suggested it may be a false positive. Could someone explain to me what a false positive is?

Answer 1

False positives are rare (so it's very suprising they would suggest this). It means that the test says you are pregnant when you are not. They are rare b/c the test detects the hormone HCG which is ONLY produced during pregnancy. (Some people produce a small amt of hcg but it should not be enough to make a positive on a test.) Faint lines are definitely positives! Because if you were not pregnant there would be no HCG and thus no line at all. Many of the home tests say directly in the instructions that a line no matter how faint is for sure a positive. Since you have only recently missed your period it is VERY likely that you are pregnant but that the hormone has not had enough time to build up in your system to give you a very dark line. Everone's HCG increases at different rates in early pregnancy, and it is not uncommon for women to not even receive any sort of a positive until 7 days after a missed period! My suggestion would be to take a blood test (a dr should perform one after you receiving 2 faint lines). Blood tests are a little more accurate and trained drs interpret them so it is less likely to receive a false positive. Best Wishes!

Answer 2

A false positive would occur only if you were given medication with HCG in it. They use those for fertility reasons and to treat mild endometriosis.

If you're not taking any medications, I would suggest finding a doctor at a different clinic, because there really is no such thing as a "false" positive.

Answer 3

Actually, I've always heard that it's impossible to get a false positive. The tests are looking for the pregnancy hormone and if it's there, it means you're pregnant. Unless there's some way I've never heard of to get the pregnancy hormone without being pregnant?

By the way, my first son was the faintest positive possible!

Answer 4

False positives occur when there's a slight elevation in the hcg levels...could be attributed to things other than pregnancy. I had that happen...but then was re-tested after another week...and had a true positive. Usually, the First Response home pregnancy kits are pretty accurate...99%.

Answer 5

False positives are VERY rare and I think that it is safe to assume you are pregnant, unless you are undergoing fertility treatments or have a history of ovarian cysts. If your HCG level is weak, you are early in the pregnancy. Please demand a blood test to get your beta levels checked. Good luck.

Answer 6

you should have went to another clinic because false positive are almost non existant. in oder for it to come up positive it has to come in contact with the hcg hormone and that hormone is only there when preggo. congrats you're pregoo!

Answer 7

I was told only a few weeks ago there is no such thing as a false positive!

Answer 8

It means for some reason the test is showing that you're pregnant when you're really not.
It has happened to me before. But not twice so maybe you are!! Try waiting to retake it or go to the doctor for a blood test.