Drug Name

Early Pregnancy Strip Test

Drug Uses

Early Pregnancy Strip Tests are recommended for the rapid determination of hCG in the urine. This early pregnancy test (EPT) can confirm a pregnancy as early as one day after a missed period or approximately one week after the moment of fertilization.

How Taken

• Allow specimen and Early Pregnancy Strip Test to reach room temperature (20 to 30 degrees C) prior to testing;
• Do not open the sealed pouch until you are ready to start the test;
• Remove the test strip from the sealed foil pouch;
• Be careful not to touch the test development areas of the test devices with your fingers or expose these areas to water or other fluids;
• Hold Early Pregnancy Strip Test at the top in a vertical position with the arrows pointing downward. Lower the test strip into the urine specimen. Do not immerse the test strip beyond the "Stop Line".
• Leave the test strip immersed for a minimum of 5 seconds;
• Remove the test strip from the sample and place on a non-absorbent flat surface;
• Read results for both test formats at 3-5 minutes. Do not attempt to interpret test results after 5 minutes.

The test is negative if only one band appears in the Control (C) Zone. The test is positive if two colored bands appear in the test panel. One colored band will appear in the Test (T) Zone and one in the Control (C) Zone. Any colored band in the Test Zone should be considered a positive result if the band appeared within 3-5 minutes of starting the test procedure. The colored band in the Control Zone may be lighter or darker in color and/or intensity than the Test Zone band; this is not relevant to test interpretation, only the presence of a test band is important to test interpretation. The test is invalid if no band appears in the Control Zone even if a colored band appears in the Test Zone. This can be caused by not immersing the test strip for at least 5 seconds, immersing it beyond the "Stop Line", or with the cassette format, not adding enough sample to the sample well. Exposure to the test development area of the test devices to water or other fluids, or touching these areas can contaminate and/or prevent the proper operation of the test.

Drug Class and Mechanism

Early Pregnancy Strip Test determines pregnancy through the detection of the hormone hCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) in a woman's urine. In technical terms, hCG is a glycoprotein hormone secreted by the developing placenta shortly after a fertilized egg has implanted in the uterine lining.

Clinically speaking, HCG is measured in thousandths of International Units, or mIU. Pregnancy tests with a sensitivity of 20 mIU/ml are most sensitive. Tests brands will display how sensitive their tests are using mIU as the standard unit of measure. Test sensitivity equates with early-detection - and the lower the number, the sooner a test can detect pregnancy. The most sensitive pregnancy tests can detect hCG levels at as low as 20 mIU - or at around 8 days following implantation of the egg.

Missed Dose

You can use Early Pregnancy Strip Test whenever you feel you need to do so.

Storage

Early Pregnancy Strip Test should be stored at room temperature (15 to 30 degrees C) for the duration of the shelf-life. Early Pregnancy Strip Test must remain in the foil wrap or fog pouch until ready for use.

Warnings/Precautions

• The test strip should remain in the sealed pouch until ready for use.
• All urine specimens should be considered potentially hazardous and handled in the same manner as an infectious waste agent.
• The test strip should be discarded in a proper container after testing.
• Any positive test should be confirmed with your healthcare provider immediately.

Possible Side Effects

No possible side effects detected.

More Information

Each test includes a built in quality and procedural control. Correct procedural technique and test strip performance is confirmed when a colored band appears at the Control Zone of the membrane.