Pregnancy Test
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A pregnancy test is the test done to determine whether a woman is pregnant or not.
There are certain markers which can point out towards pregnancy.
These are basically found in blood & urine.
Tests for pregnancy :
- Early pregnancy factor (EPF) -- It can be detected in blood within 48 hours of conception. This test for pregnancy gives the quickest result but it is expensive and time-consuming.
- Obstetric ultrasonography (USG) -- This is a medical diagnostic procedure where sound waves are used to create real-time visual images of the developing embryo in mother's womb. The gestational sac is usually looked for and visualized. It can be performed across the abdominal wall or through the abdominal cavity called as transabdominal USG or is performed through the vagina called as transvaginal USG
- HCG test -- HCG (Human chorionic gonadotropin) is a reliable marker to detect pregnancy. It is released by fertilized egg or ova. HCG levels continue to rise through the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. The test is performed to look for the presence of the beta subunit of hCG. It can be detected in urine or blood 6-12 days after fertilization. Blood test is more sensitive and qualitative amongst both and is able to detect it earlier then urine tests. The accuracy of a pregnancy test depends on the day of ovulation, not of the act of intercourse that caused the pregnancy. There are several DIY tests also available in the market with different names for urine pregnancy test but the reliability of it is still questioned upon as many users misunderstood the instructions given or failed to follow the same included in the kits. So it may sometimes show false positive or false negative if used improperly.
