Pregnancy Tests

Everything you need to know about pregnancy tests

How pregnancy tests work

All home pregnancy tests detect the ‘pregnancy hormone’, human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG) in urine. In pregnancy, hCG is produced first by the fertilised egg and later the placenta. A fertilised egg typically implants into the lining of the uterus (womb) 6-8 days before the missed period, when tiny amounts of hCG start to appear in the mother’s blood and urine. Though hCG levels are very low at first, the level rises rapidly and predictably in the first weeks of pregnancy⁵.

When can I take a pregnancy test?

All Clearblue pregnancy tests are clinically proven to be over 99% accurate at detecting pregnancy from the day you expect your period. However, if you think you might be pregnant, you want to know for sure as soon as possible, and many women want to test earlier than this. The earliest you can test with the most sensitive tests currently available is 6 days before your missed period (typically 10 days after ovulation).
Read more about testing early and use our handy ‘when to test’ calculator.

How to use a pregnancy test

Almost three-quarters of women prefer the ease of testing directly in their urine stream⁶. For your convenience, all Clearblue tests can be used either ‘in-stream’ simply by holding the tip directly in the urine stream for 5 seconds; or by dipping the test into a collected urine sample for between 5 - 20 seconds, depending on the product used. Keep in mind you should always read the leaflet of the test you are using. You can download instruction leaflets for any of our pregnancy products here.

How to read a pregnancy test

After taking a pregnancy test, waiting for your result can be an exciting or nerve-racking time, and you want to be confident you are interpreting it correctly. Studies demonstrate that the type of test you choose can make a big difference on how easy they are to read. Digital tests like Clearblue with Weeks Indicator give unmistakable results in words. Did you know that nearly 1 in 3 women can misread some types of pregnancy test⁶? 

Which test is right for me?

All Clearblue pregnancy tests are designed with women in mind, and include unique and innovative features to make them easy to use and easy to read, so you can be confident in your result, helping reassure you when you need it most.

There are other tests out there that don’t tick these boxes.

Strips and Cassettes are the most basic types of test. They are often small, and not easy to use as they involve multiple steps, including collecting a sample before testing. When you are excited or anxious (or both), it can be easy to make a mistake – or worry you have made a mistake. And studies have shown that 1 in 3 women can misread these types of tests, making them some of the most difficult types of tests to use and read.⁶

Nearly three-quarters of women prefer to test directly in their urine stream. Studies have shown midstream tests like Clearblue are convenient, hygienic and easy to use.⁶

With Clearblue you can also choose to test early - Clearblue Ultra Early Pregnancy Test gives results from 6 days before your missed period². Or for the most information about your pregnancy of any test, try Clearblue with Weeks Indicator, the only test that can also tell you how many weeks since you conceived. However, if you’ve already missed your period and just want a fast result, then the Clearblue Rapid Detection could be the test for you. 

Compare Clearblue Pregnancy Tests

Watch our video to see the different types of pregnancy test, to help you choose the right test for you.

Pregnancy tests at the doctor's surgery

The urine pregnancy tests your doctor uses contain the same technology as home pregnancy tests. Doctor’s pregnancy tests also detect hCG and are over 99% accurate from the day you expect your period. Just like some home tests, some doctor’s tests can be used before you miss your period.

As home pregnancy tests are so reliable, your doctor may not do a second test to confirm a positive test result, though routine practice varies from country to country. If they do a second urine test, often you will have the result in a few minutes. Alternatively your doctor may do a blood test, either taking a blood sample (blood draw) from your arm, or just a few drops of blood from a finger prick. If a blood sample is taken, it may be sent away to a laboratory, and results will usually take a few days.

Over 30 years of Clearblue firsts

Clearblue has been a pioneer in pregnancy testing for over 30 years, delivering new and innovative products, including:

• 1985

  The world’s first easy to use home pregnancy test. Faster and much simpler than previous methods, it was the first test you could use directly in your urine stream, had just 3 steps, and gave an accurate result in just 30 minutes when other methods took hours or even days.

• 1988

  The world’s first one-step pregnancy test with easy-to-read results in just 3 minutes

• 1996

  The world’s first 1 minute pregnancy test.

• 2003

  The world’s first digital pregnancy test, giving a clear result in words. The ‘digital revolution’ is important as 1 in 4 women can misread a line test⁷.

• 2004

  The world’s first pregnancy test with a colour changing tip for easy sampling

• 2008

  The world’s first pregnancy test that tells you how many weeks since you conceived (1-2, 2-3, or 3+).

• 2011

  The world’s first pregnancy test to win a Red Dot award for its innovative, consumer-friendly ergonomic design

• 2012

  The world’s first digital pregnancy test with smart countdown to your result

• 2014

  Results 6 days early – no test can tell you sooner²