6. Question: Can I receive a false positive pregnancy test? Or a false negative?
Answer: A false positive is a rather rare occurrence indeed. The two most common causes of, or explanations for, a false positive are 1) Use of hCG-containing fertility drugs (clomid is not one of them) and 2) improper use of test or failure to observe guidelines on test interpretation. With regard to the latter explanation, a false positive associated with improper use is typically caused by an attempt to interpret a test result after the given “reaction time” of a test. With most tests, you should not read a result after the five or ten minute time interval specified by the manufacturer. Hardly anything (besides fertility drugs) can interfere with a preg test result, so a true false positive is not a common occurrence.As for a false negative, these may be more common due to the issues discussed in Questions 4 and 5 about hCG production, rates of hCG increase, and testing tips. If you do elect to test early, we always advise to take follow-up tests to account for various variables that may postpone or slightly delay a first positive result. Such variables include date of implantation, concentration of hCG in a given urine sample, specific rate of hCG increase (depends, in some cases, on where in the womb the fetus implants). Again, please view our Buyer’s Guide to ensure maximum accuracy!
Finally, a chemical pregnancy is a not entirely uncommon phenomenon generally associated with actively trying-to-conceive women. That’s because TTC couples will be testing, on average, sooner. A chemical pregnancy is when a fertilized embryo implants briefly in the womb (long enough to produce the hormone hCG) but the pregnancy does not “take”, and is followed by normal menstruation. Hence, in such a particular situation, you can get a positive result and, several days later, find yourself quite surprised and disappointed with a series of negative results. A chemical pregnancy is not at all rare, and therefore it is one of the emotional hazards of early-detection tests.
Back to Question and Answer Index
Conception FAQs
- FAQs for Trying-to-Conceive Couples
- 1. What are the first early pregnancy signs – and when are they detectable or first sensed?
- 2. How do pregnancy tests work?
- 3. What is hCG? Why is its function as a reproductive hormone?
- 4. I missed my period but my pregnancy test is negative. What could be going on?
- 5. When does the Pregnancy Test usually become positive?
- 6. Is it possible to have a false-positive pregnancy test? Or a false-negative?
- 7. When and how often should we make love?
- 8. Am I ovulating? What are the common signs or symptoms of ovulation?
- 9. How can I identify my fertile window – or the very best day to conceive?
- 10. What’s involved in BBT charting and how do I take a “basal” temperature reading?
- 11. What is “Fertile Cervical Mucus”, What does it do, and When can I expect it?
- 12. What is Sperm Count and Motility? How many days can sperm live?
- 13. Implantation: What is it and what are the signs?
- 14. How much will my bbt temperature rise? What is a normal bbt “thermal” shift?
- 15. How does the position of my cervix change when I ovulate?
- 16. The journey of sperm: What are the factors in sperm health and pregnancy?
- 17. Is there clinical research supporting fertility products or supplements?
- 18. What is my ovulation cycle?
- 19. What is a luteal phase defect?
- 20. What is the role of progesterone in fertility and pregnancy?
- 21. Can Herbal Supplements help me conceive?
- 22. Can Fertility Yoga or Acupuncture help me?
- 23. What is the “2 Week Wait”?
- 24. Does Fashion Choice reflect fertility?
- 25. How Long Does It Take to Conceive?
- 26. Can special Fertilitea teas help me conceive?
- 27. Can Prenatal Music make my baby smarter?
- 28. Guaifenesin Cough Syrup or FertileCM for Thin Cervical Mucus?
- 29. How Can I Increase Sperm Count?
More Pregnancy Test Articles
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- How Early Can I Test for Pregnancy?
- How Accurate Are Pregnancy Tests?
- What’s a Faint Line on a Pregnancy Test Mean?
- What are Pregnancy Test Evaporation Lines?
- What is a Chemical Pregnancy?
- Missed your Period? The Role of HCG in Pregnancy & Testing
- First Morning Urine & Pregnancy Testing
- Pregnancy Test Kit Sensitivity & Accuracy
- FAQ: How do pregnancy tests work?
- FAQ: I missed my period but my pregnancy test is negative
- FAQ: Can I receive a false positive result on my pregnancy test? Or a false negative?
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- Negative Pregnancy Test and Missed Period
- Implantation Bleeding
- When to Take a Pregnancy Test
- Best Pregnancy Test
- Pregnancy Test Accuracy
- Faint Line on Pregnancy Test
- Blood Pregnancy Test
- False Positive Pregnancy Test
- Pregnancy Test False Negative
- How Early Can You Take a Pregnancy Test?
- Home Pregnancy Test
- Ovulation Test as Pregnancy Test