Pregnancy test kit

There are two types of pregnancy test kits -

• Strip pregnancy test - This is the most commonly available and used type of pregnancy test kit. The test strip is used by holding it in the urine stream. If a sufficient amount of HCG hormone is present in your urine, you will get two dark lines in the strip, which indicates that you are pregnant.
• Cup test kit - This kit also contains a cup for collecting urine along with the test equipment. After taking urine in this cup, dip this test device in the cup. If HCG is present in the urine, its colour will change, which means that you are pregnant.

(Read more: Pregnancy test)

An at-home pregnancy test kit is easily available, doesn't cost much and can be stored at home for use at your convenience. It is especially convenient for women who're trying to get pregnant and may need to check frequently. Compared to the alternatives - getting a Beta HCG test or going to the doctor for an ultrasound, a pregnancy test kit is the best option. Additionally, given their accuracy, one can be confident about the results of the test. 

It is also handy for women who are sexually active and may have engaged in unprotected intercourse. Besides all the above factors, in a conservative society like India, it allows you to maintain your privacy.

(Read more: Pregnancy diet)

If you're actively trying to get pregnant, you should keep this kit handy so that you can check a few days after trying to conceive. Normally, it takes one to two weeks for detectable amounts of HCG to build up in urine after implantation has happened. So, you've had sex during your ovulation, you can do the test as early as a week after having sex.

In addition to the correct gap after having sex, the time of day when the test is done is also important. For best results, you should use the pregnancy test kit when you pass urine for the first time in the morning as that's when HCG is at its highest level the urine. If you do the latest on urine passed later on, the chances of getting an accurate result are much lower.

If you are not trying to get pregnant but have unprotected sex or are worried that protection may have failed, have missed your period and are beginning to see some early signs of pregnancy such as breast tenderness, you should do the test and consult your doctor.

(Read more: Can you get pregnant on your periods)

The OTC pregnancy kits are mostly easy to use and self-diagnostic. However, a correct technique should be applied in order to get the actual results and avoid false interpretations. To start with, the test should be performed only if the kit is at room temperature and follow these steps:

• Wash your hands with soap and read the instructions given on the kit.
• Take out the sterile container to collect the urine. Most of the tests advise that a midstream sample (taken in the middle of urination) be collected because the concentration of the urine at the beginning of urination is high.
• Place the container on a stable flat surface, take out the test strips from the kit and hold them from the coloured end. The other side of the strip is the test site and is not supposed to be touched.
• Dip the strip into the container up to a quarter inch. There is also a stop line which means that you should not dip the strip into the urine sample beyond it.
• Wait for a few minutes as recommended by the manufacturer and read your results.
• In some kits, instead of strips, there is a small device which has a sample well to dispense the urine. Place the test kit on a flat surface and using the dropper provided, put a few drops of the urine in the sample well. Wait for some time as instructed by the manufacturer and notice the appearance of lines on the other end of the strip.
• Some kits do not have a container and a dropper. In fact, they have an absorbent pad on one end and a test window at the other. You need to directly pee on the absorbent pad, wait for a few minutes and interpret the results.

(Read more: Can you get pregnant on your periods)

Some test kits which have an attached digital screen interpret the results for you and you don’t end up getting confused about how to do it. The results appear in words as “Pregnant” and “Not Pregnant”. However, the most widely used kits have to be self-interpreted and the test results are either negative or positive. Sometimes, you may also get confused when you only see a faded line.

• Positive pregnancy test
  A single line represents that the test has been performed correctly and is known as control (C) while the other line is the test line (T). The appearance of both the lines signifies that you are pregnant. These lines usually have bright colours like red, green, or blue.
   
• Negative pregnancy test
  If only the control line appears and there is no sign of the second line, it means you’re not pregnant and the test result is interpreted as negative.
   
• Faint line
  Some women get confused when they see a faint line on the test window. Manufacturers suggest that a faded line also signifies that you are pregnant because such a line most probably appears when the level of hCG hormone in the urine is very low.

(Read more - How to get pregnant)

Sometimes, despite taking precautions, you might end up getting the wrong result while testing yourself for pregnancy. Hence, here are a few tips on the things that you need to take care of before performing the test such as:

• Do your research before buying a pregnancy test kit and only buy those which have been proven to provide the true results.
• Check the expiry date of the test kit.
• Bring the test kit to room temperature before starting the test.
• Always test yourself early in the morning because the level of hCG is highest in the morning.
• Do not touch the urine sample with dirty hands.
• Collect the midstream sample.
• Do not dip the strips too much.
• Do not overfill the sample well.
• Always wait for the recommended amount of time.
• Whenever in doubt, take the pregnancy test again.

Most of the widely used kits are inexpensive and the average price is 50 INR. However, depending on the number of tests in the kit and the brand, the price of the test kit may range from 45 to 300 INR. Here are some of the more common ones