While both blood and urine pregnancy tests check for the same hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), the tests are administered differently, and blood tests provide more details.
How Do Pregnancy Tests Work?
Pregnancy tests screen for the presence or absence of hCG in either urine or blood. The hormone hCG is usually found in urine or blood about 10-11 days after conception. Levels rise quickly and steadily through most of the first trimester.
If you are doing a blood pregnancy test, a medical professional will take a blood sample and send it to a lab for testing. You will likely receive results in days.
If you are doing a urine pregnancy test, you will provide a urine sample for testing, or you can take an at-home test following the instructions. The results are available within minutes.
If either pregnancy test detects hCG, it registers as a positive pregnancy test.
Pregnancy Testing Timing
Typically, a blood test can detect hCG in 11 days, but it could take longer for a urine test. The timing for urine tests depends on the type of test.
The general rule of thumb for a urine pregnancy test is to wait until after the first day of your missed period. If you aren’t sure when to expect your period, you can take the test three weeks after sex. Because urine tests range in sensitivity, at-home urine pregnancy tests have specific instructions for the best time to take them.
Medical-grade pregnancy tests like ours can detect hCG in as little as 12-14 days after conception. If you want earlier results than an at-home test, visit our clinic in Ypsilanti, MI.
Why Do Women Use Pregnancy Blood Testing?
Urine pregnancy tests are much more accessible because you can purchase them at a drugstore. They are also less expensive, so why do women use pregnancy blood testing?
Blood pregnancy tests can determine the specific level of hCG present in blood. This information can be very valuable to medical professionals in certain situations.
Women concerned they could be miscarrying after spotting may take subsequent blood tests to check if hCG levels are normal or if they are rising or falling.
We Offer No-Cost Pregnancy Tests!
Visit our pregnancy clinic on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday for a no-cost pregnancy test. Our medical-grade tests can detect pregnancy even earlier than typical over-the-counter tests.
If you’d like to secure a time, you can schedule a no-cost appointment online. We can help determine whether you’re pregnant in minutes with a quick and accurate test.
If you receive a positive test result, we can provide an ultrasound during the same appointment. This diagnostic tool can verify that you are actually pregnant and give you critical details, including your pregnancy’s gestational age, viability, and location. An ultrasound will confirm there are no signs of miscarriage.
If you’re undecided on abortion, determining your pregnancy’s status will reveal your options and whether or not medical intervention for another condition (miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy) is necessary.
We provide all of our pregnancy confirmation services at no cost. Schedule a time that works for you.
