If you have decided to become parents, it is an important and difficult decision to take and must be made after some thinking. The best way to determine if you are pregnant is to get a blood pregnancy test done. These tests are done in the early stages of pregnancy to ensure a healthy and happy journey into parenthood
A blood pregnancy test is done to determine whether a woman is carrying a child or not. It is the first step in the journey of parenthood.
Several factors are accounted for in a blood pregnancy test
While it is easy to take a home pregnancy test which is a urine-based test, it is not always accurate due to the time- period being from conception to the time of next menstruation not being clear. Therefore, a blood test to confirm pregnancy ensures that if a woman is pregnant, it is detected early.
There are two types of blood tests used to determine pregnancy. Depending on when it is taken it could either be a negative blood pregnancy test or a positive blood pregnancy test.
The two types of blood pregnancy tests are
There is a procedure called venepuncture which is used to extract the blood sample from the vein for a qualitative blood test. It is instant and is only done once to detect the level of hCG in the blood.
A venepuncture is used in this type of test as well to detect pregnancy and blood is drawn twice in a span of 48-72 hours to check for pregnancy. This test also looks for hCG levels in the blood and is more accurate as there is a waiting window before the next test in case of a false negative result the first time.
Once the test is taken, the pregnancy blood test results are explained by your gynaecologist or lab technician. The test is done by a technician or nurse who first draws blood from a vein which is usually located by identifying in the forearm or hand. The blood is collected by using a syringe or vial. The tests are usually performed at a separate diagnostics lab and then sent to your doctor, or you may have to go collect the reports. The test usually identifies and determines the level of HCG or pregnancy hormone in the blood.
Results from a quantitative hCG test can showcase raising levels of hCG in the first trimester of pregnancy and then it starts to decline.
Some interpretations of the test are:-
If the levels of hCG are less than normal, it can also indicate
The blood pregnancy tests are 98-99% accurate if they are performed around 7 days after ovulation, a week prior to the period being due. Although there are changes of false negative results and false positive results
False negative results
This means that you are actually pregnant, but the test results show that you are not. This usually occurs if the test is taken too early, i.e. it is difficult to detect the levels of HCG in the blood thereby leading to a negative. If you think this is not an accurate result and you feel pregnant, you should repeat the test within 48-72 hours.
False positive results
This means that you are not pregnant and the test has shown that you are which is a rarity. This result can happen if you are under certain medication or have a certain medical condition which causes a higher level of hCG.
There are several medications that can affect the accuracy of a blood test taken for pregnancy. Some of them are listed below
If you are wondering how soon can a blood test detect pregnancy after conception, or if you and your partner have been trying to have a child and you feel like you could be pregnant it is time to take a blood test to detect pregnancy right after you miss your first period.
Nowadays the risks involved in taking blood-based pregnancy tests are next to none as it is quite regulated. Some of the risks are
If you get an early pregnancy blood test, the chances are that they may be sometimes false even if you are pregnant.
Blood pregnancy test needs to be taken in your gynaecologist office or at a diagnostics centre and cannot be taken at home. You may be wondering how long for the results to come for the blood test taken for pregnancy. It depends from one diagnostic centre to another and may take time from your schedule to go get the test done.
If you have an intuition that you could be pregnant, it is important to take a home pregnancy test, or a urine test first and then definitely go get a blood test done to confirm the pregnancy. It is also important to mentally prepare oneself for the journey of parenthood as it is going to the responsibility of a lifetime.