How accurate are pregnancy test strips?

[Anonymous]

I bought a bunch of pregnancy test strips from early-pregnancy-tests.com The website says the tests are the most sensitive on the market (detecting 20 mIU/ml hCG) but there was nothing about this on the actual packaging and the instructions that came with the tests said something about false negative results under 40 mIU/ml hCG. Anyone use these strips before? I also used their ovulation strips and found them very difficult to read. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

First Response Early Response are the most sensitive I have found. I had a super faint (almost vanishing) line on the early pregnancy tests strips on my last pregnancy and decided to bust out the FRER to see if I had a better line. I did. I still think the cheaper ones are decent and good for regular testing, but FRER is more sensitive for early testing. One independent website said FRER is sensitive to 6 mIU/ml hCG based on actual usage and not the manufacturer's claim (which is 20 mIU/ml hCG).

[Anonymous]

I still think the cheaper ones are decent and good for regular testing, but FRER is more sensitive for early testing. One independent website said FRER is sensitive to 6 mIU/ml hCG based on actual usage and not the manufacturer's claim (which is 20 mIU/ml hCG).

This is what I was going to say. If you're a compulsive tester and you're going through HPTs like crazy, I think the strips are fine b/c they're cheap and they are accurate. But if you're in a "is there a line or isn't there a line?" early testing situation and you're just making yourself crazy, I'd spend the money on FRER for some peace of mind - a 2-pack is $12.99 in Giant; well worth it. They really do pick up very low levels - I have read 6mIU/ml as well.

[Anonymous]

I actually had better luck with the cheapies - FRER didn't show a positive until 2 days later...

My hcg was low, but the cheapies did the job very well!

[Anonymous]

I first found out i was prego with the cheap test strips you mention...it was the day before my period was due, so it was accurate early on for me. Of course, I didn't stop there, so, like many crazies, I ended up buying the more expensive tests at CVS "just to make sure" at least 5 times afterwards.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks everyone! I'm a compulsive tester! Sometimes, I'm not even sure why I test because I know damn well nothing is going to show up! I'm going to purchase some store brands for this round just to double check.

[Anonymous]

In my experience, the cheapies from early-pregnancy-tests.com DO work fine, but the line on a positive can be VERY, VERY faint. I think that if you use these, you should know that even a hint of a line is a positive reading. There was never any ambiguity for me on negative test strips. Their OPKs on the other hand, were a bit more difficult to read - many times I never got a fully positive reading even though I tested twice a day and know that I ovulated.

[Anonymous]

OP I am a compulsive tester too and just bought 100 tests on ebay for $20.

LOL, i can pee on sticks guilt free now!