What is a pregnancy test?
A pregnancy test is an easy-to-use diagnostic tool used to detect whether a woman is pregnant. It determines pregnancy by detecting human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels in urine. Pregnancy tests usually consist of a special strip of test paper and a reader that detects the dark and light streaks that appear on the paper. Generally speaking, if there are two lines on the pregnancy test stick, it means that the woman is pregnant; if there is only one line, it is negative, that is, she is not pregnant.
What do the dark and light bars represent?
On the pregnancy test stick, the dark and light bars represent the following meanings:
1. Dark bars
The dark bar refers to the line that appears in the test area of the test paper, which represents the detection of the hCG hormone, indicating a positive pregnancy.
2. Light colored bars
The light-colored bar refers to the line that appears in the control area of the test paper. It represents whether the test paper is normal. If the color of the line that appears in the control area is the same and clear as the normal control rod line, it means that the test paper is normal.
What are the possible reasons for the appearance of dark and light bars?
1. Dark bars
The main reason dark bars appear is pregnancy. When a woman becomes pregnant, her body produces hCG hormone. A dark bar on a pregnancy test means the hormone has been detected and a woman is pregnant.
2. Light colored bars
There are many reasons for the appearance of light bars, such as expired test paper, improper storage, insufficient sensitivity of the test paper, etc. Additionally, if the urine is too dilute or concentrated, it may affect the results. Therefore, make sure the test strips used are intact before testing.
How to use a pregnancy test?
The steps to use a pregnancy test are as follows:
1. First take out the test paper from the package and place it on a clean and dry workbench.
2. Collect urine into a clean container.
3. Unpack the reader, place the test strip in the test area, and place the reader on a flat ground.
4. Gently place the test strip into the collected urine and wait a few seconds.
5. Remove the test strip and place it in the slot of the reader.
6. Wait for the reader to display the results. If a dark bar appears, you are pregnant.
Summary
The dark and light bars represent pregnancy and whether the test strip is normal respectively. When using a pregnancy test stick, you should pay attention to the shelf life and storage conditions of the test strip to ensure the accuracy of the test. If you are unsure about the results, you can repeat the test or go to the hospital for confirmation to avoid affecting the health of yourself and your fetus.
