Pregnancy symptoms are subtle and don’t make an appearance all at once. However, awareness of a possible pregnancy is vital and should be done at the earliest to help you prepare and to keep you and your child both healthy. But it should not take you days of feeling nauseous, strange mood swings and an irrational craving for French fries and root beer to make you want to visit a professional to find out what’s wrong with you. Take the simpler, cheaper alternative instead and buy yourself a pregnancy test kit.
Most pregnancy tests are best done 3 to 4 days before missed period, but don’t do it too early, or you’ll end up with a false negative. There’s also a decision to be made on whether you want to use the digital variety or the old fashioned two-line test, as well as the smart two-in-one variety that detects pregnancy and tells you how far along you are.
Source: ASDA Baby & Toddler Club
Best Pregnancy Test Kits to Choose From
Here are the top 10 pregnancy test kits that you can use to identify whether or not you are pregnant.
1. Clearblue digital pregnancy test with smart countdown
Why?
Clearblue digital Pregnancy Test with Smart Countdown is a digital pregnancy test that is both accurate and easy to use and has a fun, unique progress indicator that counts down to your result, which is unambiguously mentioned as ‘pregnant’ or ‘not pregnant’.
When?
The test is sensitive enough to be used up to 4 days before your expected period. However, you will have a greater accuracy (about 95%) if you take it a day before, while, on your expected day, the accuracy jumps to 99%.
How?
Pee on the wide absorbent strip and wait for the result. The screen has a progress bar composed of four segments, and the segments will illuminate with time. The entire test will give you results in 3 minutes.
2. First response Early Result
Why?
First response early result is a sensitive ‘two-line’ pregnancy test that can give you an accurate result in six days before your expected period. It is over 99% accurate and gives you your result in 3 minutes flat. In addition, it comes along with a 50% wider tip and is curved to fit your hand.
When?
This particular test is designed to detect your pregnancy (or non-pregnancy, so to speak) as early as six days before your missed period. You can use the test at any time of the day.
How?
Pee on the absorbent strip for a time limit of 5 seconds. You could also collect your urine in a clean, dry cup and immerse the entire absorbent tip for five seconds. Either way, replace the overcap after five seconds and place your test stick somewhere dry. You will see a pinkish color moving across the result window indicating progress. In 3 minutes, you will have a double pink line indicating pregnancy or a single one indicating you aren’t pregnant.
Read – 21 Early Signs or Indicators of Pregnancy
3. First Response Gold Digital Pregnancy Test
Why?
Another simple digital pregnancy test, First Response Gold Digital Pregnancy test gives you the benefit of accuracy and practicality. Similar to the Clearblue test, this one gives you a digital reading of ‘YES+’ if it detects pregnancy hormones and ‘NO-‘ if it doesn’t.
When?
The test can be used to give accurate results six days before your expected period, in which case it’s 60% accurate. However, this leaps to 99% a day before your period. Not bad, at any rate.
How?
This test activates itself when you remove the test stick from the foil wrapper, and check for a clock symbol on the screen. Pee on the absorbent sampler strip holding on to the test stick by the thumb grip and make sure you hold it in the stream for 5 seconds. In 3 minutes, you’ll have your result.
4. e.p.t. Digital Pregnancy Test
Why?
The e.p.t. test is 99% accurate on the day before your expected period. You can also get results five days before your expected period as well. It being digital, makes it accurate and easy to read, with an unambiguous reading of ‘pregnant’ or ‘not pregnant’. In addition, the screen also lights up with a book symbol if you may have done the test wrong.
When?
Best used a day before your expected period for a 99% accurate reading. Are you impatient and don’t want to wait that long? Then, use it 5 days before instead. You may not have the same level of accuracy, but it’s worth a shot.
How?
Use your test stick as soon as you take it out of the wrapper. Pee into the absorbent strip for 5 seconds while holding it downward throughout. In 3 minutes, you’ll have a result.
5. New Choice Pregnancy Test
Why?
It’s cheap and accurate. There are some who believe that this pregnancy test boots out even the e.p.t. test in accuracy. New choice is one of those pregnancy tests that involve peeing into a cup and using a dropper. Although it may be old fashioned, it is said to be just as sensitive as the e.p.t Digital Pregnancy Test.
When?
Take it one week after a missed period for 99% accuracy.
How?
Collect some pee in a cup and then use a dropper to add several drops to the specified area of the test. Two lines indicate pregnancy.
6. Clearblue Advanced Pregnancy Test with Weeks Indicator
Why?
Said to be 99% accurate at detecting pregnancy from the day of a woman’s expected period, the test also estimates how far along you are- up to three weeks. The pee stick also includes two strips.
When?
You can use it up to 4 days before your period, but it works best when used on the day of your expected period.
How?
The same drill as always. Pee on the strip and wait for a result.
7. CVS Pregnancy Test
Why?
A popular and oft-bought pregnancy test that ensures quick results and is reputed to be accurate.
When?
Test yourself the day of your expected period for best results.
How?
Pop the test stick into the test holder, line up the purple arrows until it clicks into place, and take the test. You’ll have a ‘pregnant’ or ‘not pregnant’ reading on the screen in 3 minutes.
8. Detect5 Progressive Pregnancy Test
Why?
This is a different kind of test that gives you pregnancy results and also tells you how far along you are.
When?
Perform the test 7-10 days after ovulation for best results.
How?
Pee on to the tip and wait for 5 minutes. A double purple line indicates pregnancy. If you’re pregnant, you’ll observe a range of the amount of pregnancy hormone that will tell you the stage of pregnancy.
9. First Response Gold
Why?
It’s a new digital test. Sensitive and accurate, it detects two types of hCG.
When?
It is said to be best tested with four days before your expected period.
How?
Pee on the absorbent strip. The wait time is 3 minutes until you have a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ that shows up on screen.
10. Answer Quick and Simple Early Result pregnancy Test
Why?
A standard stick test said to be 99% accurate and can be used up to four days before your expected period.
When?
Do the test four days before your expected period for best results.
How?
Pee on to the absorbent strip as usual and you’ll have your results in 3 minutes. One line signals negative, whereas two indicate positive.
With these pregnancy test kits, its very easy now to know whether or not you’re pregnant and also these kits can also help you in planning your pregnancy better. After testing with these kits, also do visit your gynecologist or obstetrician to be doubly sure.
