Is it possible for an at home pregnancy test to give you an inaccurate positive result?

Question

I just did a test and it said i was positive i'll do another one tomorrow and then a docs. But for now i was just wondering i know its possible to give an inaccurate negative result but what about a positive?

Answer 1

its extremely rare to get a false positive. You need to have the HcG hormone (human Chrionic something!!) in your wee to get that result.

Congratulations. If you are going to buy another test tomorrow I wouldn't bother (unless you got a 2 pack), just go to the docs to confirm.

Best of luck. I did a test today too! I'm 5 weeks by my last period even though i've 'known' for about 12 days now. Its my 3rd!

Answer 2

Could I have a false positive? Check out The Truth About False Positives for an in-depth look at false positives. Essentially, it is possible, but it's unlikely. If you get two lines, you're most likely pregnant. Exceptions: if you have been taking certain fertility meds with hCG, the test may be picking up the hCG from the meds and not an embryo. Also, some tests develop "positive" lines after the time limit. You should NOT read the test after the time limit (usually 10 minutes, but check the directions that came with the test.) Yes, this means you should throw the test away and NOT dig it out of the trash in three hours to see if a line magically appeared. And, if the "positive" line is gray or looks like a "dent" in the test, it is an evaporation line and not a true positive.

Lastly, if you have been pregnant recently, it's possible that the test is detecting residual hCG. However, if a pregnancy ends early on, it's unlikely that hCG will remain in your system very long, so most women have nothing to worry about here. (It's extremely common for women to conceive immediately following an early miscarriage; the body is "primed" for pregnancy, so to speak, and elevated progesterone left from the miscarriage gives the next embryo a great shot at a healthy implantation. So, most women really are detecting a new pregnancy.)

However, the more hCG you had in your system when the pregnancy ended, the longer it will take to dissipate. HPT's can even detect residual hCG for up to 6 weeks following a full-term birth. It's a possibility you should keep in mind if you get positive HPT results soon after a previous pregnancy ended.

http://www.peeonastick.com/hptfaq.html

Answer 3

My doctor told me that they have never seen a false positive pregnancy test, so I'm pretty sure the odds of you getting two false positives are very, very slim. Congratulations! As for your fiance being at Fort Knox, that's only about 9 weeks so you shouldn't be too far along by the time he is done and Family Day comes around. Not sure how the Army is for basic training anymore, but you could send him a Red Cross message once the pregnancy is confirmed, talk to him on the phone (we only got a 2 minute phonecall in basic), write him a letter, or see him on Family Day. Do you know where he is going for AIT? Good luck and hope things work out for the best! Edit: Hmmm Minnesota to Kentucky is quite the drive or flight. I'd try to think of a creative and fun way to tell him if you can't make it to family day. I'd go to a doctor and get the pregnancy confirmed before letting him know, just in case so that he doesn't end up upset during basic training with no one to really talk to about it. I had some cramping in my first trimester but nothing that brought me to my knees. That just doesn't sound good. I hope things work out for the best, and I'm sure he's going to be really excited to be a father :)

Answer 4

It's very rare to get a false positive. However, sometimes you see a grey colored line and mistake it for a positive It's really an evap line. If you read your results in the amount of time you are suppose to, then congrats, because you are pregnant!!

Answer 5

When your pregnant your body produces a hormone that the pregnancy test is meant to pick up. I think your probably pregnant, its easier for a pregnancy test to be wrong when its negative and you can be pregnant then the other way round...

Answer 6

the only way that you would get a false positive result would be if you were taking hormones that contain HGC, which is the chemical that the test searches for... it is usually only present in the female body, and only during pregnancy. so, CONGRATS!! :) you're going to be a mommy!

Answer 7

I think the chances are that it's right, but it could definately be wrong. If you buy a cheap brand, use an old test, or store it at the wrong temperature, then it's more likely to be wrong.

Answer 8

I'd say it is highly unlikely but not impossible. But if it was possitive your probably preg. Congrats and Good Luck :)~

Answer 9

its more likely that it right then wrong. i did 6 tests and i still didnt believe it!