A pregnancy test is a method or device that detects whether or not a woman is pregnant. It detects the presence of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in urine or blood. After a fertilized egg implants in the uterus, the placenta generates hCG. When done appropriately, pregnancy tests are highly accurate. It is crucial to note, however, that a negative pregnancy test result does not always imply that you are not pregnant. If you receive a negative test result but are still experiencing pregnancy symptoms, you should consult a doctor.
History of Pregnancy Tests
Pregnancy tests have been used for centuries, with many different procedures employed. Some of the oldest methods were based on tradition and superstition, such as examining a woman’s behavior or checking the color of her urine. One ancient Egyptian method, for example, included having a woman urinate on wheat or barley seeds. She was assumed to be pregnant if the seeds sprouted within a few days. Drinking a concoction made from the ashes of a burned eel was also another ancient approach. If the woman vomited, it was assumed she was pregnant.
Scientists began to create more reliable methods of pregnancy testing in the 19th century. The first pregnancy blood test was created in 1898. This test, however, was not generally available until the mid-twentieth century. The first urine pregnancy test was created in 1927. The Aschheim-Zondek test consisted of putting a woman’s urine into an immature mouse. The woman was declared pregnant if the mouse ovulated within 72 hours. More sensitive and accurate urine pregnancy tests were developed in the 1950s and 1960s. The detection of hCG in urine was the basis for these diagnostics. hCG is a hormone released by the placenta when a fertilized egg is implanted in the uterus. The first home pregnancy tests were introduced in the 1970s. These tests were simple to apply and yielded accurate results in minutes. Since then, home pregnancy tests have grown in popularity and are now the most commonly used type.
Types of Pregnancy Tests
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Urine Pregnancy Tests
The most popular sort of pregnancy test is a urine pregnancy test. They are also the least expensive and most accessible to use. Most pharmacies sell urine pregnancy tests without a prescription. Simply collect a sample of your urine in a cup and follow the instructions on the test kit to do a urine pregnancy test. The majority of urine pregnancy tests entail dipping a test strip into a urine sample and waiting a few minutes for the results.
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Blood Pregnancy Tests
Blood pregnancy tests are more sensitive than urine tests and detect hCG at lower concentrations. Usually, blood pregnancy tests are performed in a doctor’s office or laboratory. A healthcare expert collects a small blood sample from your arm to perform a blood pregnancy test. After that, the blood sample will be sent to a laboratory for analysis.
How do Pregnancy Tests work?
Antibodies that bind to hCG are used in urine pregnancy tests. If there is hCG in the urine, the antibodies will bind to it, causing a colorful line to appear on the test strip. Blood pregnancy tests determine the precise concentration of hCG in the blood. This is accomplished using several technologies such as radioimmunoassay, immunoradiometric assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and fluoroimmunoassay.
