Online pregnancy tests - advice for buying a kit

Obviously it's impossible to test if you are pregnant online, but online pregnancy tests are still advertised by many companies. In reality you are just buying a home pregnancy test kit online. Buying pregnancy tests online can offer you greater privacy as you don't have to mull around the shelves of the pharmacy until the coast is clear or deal with the awkward smile of the cashier. It's also generally cheaper than buying off the shelf.

When buying online pregnancy tests you can't pick up the packet and check what is involved. So trying to make a decision about which test to buy can be difficult. However, there are certain things you should look out for.

Check what level of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is needed for the test to work. Online pregnancy tests vary considerably in their sensitivity levels: the minimum detectable level is 20mIUs but some tests only detect levels of 100mIUs. A test offering a high level of sensitivity should give you an accurate result as early as six to seven days after conception. Less sensitive tests will only give accurate results after two weeks of pregnancy. However, most doctors recommend that you wait until the first day of your missed period before taking a home pregnancy test; this rules out the possibility of an emotional rollercoaster should you have a very early miscarriage.

Also, check how many tests come in the pack. Most manufacturers recommend that you do a second home pregnancy test within a week of the first, regardless of your results. This makes allowances for any carelessness when taking the test or misinterpretation of the results. And as HCG levels double every two to three days it means that you should be able to confirm early pregnancy test results when higher levels of HCG are present.

A number of different pregnancy tests are available online. Midstream pregnancy tests use a small detector stick which needs to be held in the stream of urine as it leaves the body. With dipstrip tests you need to collect your urine in a container and dip the detector strip into the urine. Some dipstrip tests come with a special container and an eyedropper to transfer urine onto a detection strip inside the container. Both types of test have similar accuracy rates and usually take about three to five minutes to get a result.

Costs for online sales of dipstrip tests can be as low as about £2 per test or about £8 for a pack of five. Midstream tests cost about $8 (£5) online.

© The Pink Fridge Online Magazine 2008 - Online Pregnancy Tests