If there is a faint line am i pregnant

• A faint line on an at-home pregnancy test can mean you're in the earlier stages of pregnancy. 
• But, it can also mean the test wasn't taken properly, so its important to follow instructions. 
• If you get a faint line, start taking a prenatal vitamin and schedule a doctor's appointment. 

Understanding the results of an at-home pregnancy can feel surprisingly complicated at times. A pregnancy test measures the presence of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG, which is produced by an embryo. Though not as accurate as a pregnancy test at the doctors, an at-home pregnancy test can measure hCG levels with 97 to 99 percent accuracy. 

Pregnancy tests with blue or pink dye typically show one line if the result is negative and two if hCG is detected, meaning the result is positive. If you get any type of second line, even a faint one, you are pregnant, says Jennifer Lincoln, MD, an obstetrician in Oregon. "A line is a line, whether faint or dark. Any line means pregnant," she says. 

Here is what to do if you get a faint line on your pregnancy test at home according to an expert. 

What does a second, very faint line on a pregnancy test mean?

If you take a pregnancy test and a faintly colored second line appears, it usually means you are pregnant.  Here's why you could be getting a faint line:

It's early in your pregnancy. If you take a pregnancy test in the days immediately before or after a missed period, the test will only detect small amounts of hCG, which can show up as a faint line. Most pregnancy tests on the market only work properly if you take them a week or more after missing your period, says Cara Delaney, MD, a gynecologist and instructor at the Boston University School of Medicine. 

You have a chemical pregnancy. A chemical pregnancy is a type of miscarriage that happens very early on in pregnancy. It can cause a false positive result or a faint line on a pregnancy test because the brief pregnancy produces a small amount of hCG in your body.

You made a mistake in taking the test. "If you wait too long to read the test it can dry and leave a line that can be misinterpreted as a positive test," says Lincoln. Most pregnancy tests include instructions to read the results around three to five minutes after testing.

How long after a faint positive should I test again?

Lincoln says that if you get a faint line on your test and it concerns you, test again in the coming days. "It's most accurate to wait until the day of when you'd expect your period to come, but with the sensitivity of our tests it is OK to start testing a few days prior."

If an at-home pregnancy test is positive, "the majority of people don't need a blood pregnancy test to confirm they are pregnant. And in fact, our[doctors'] urine tests are exactly the same as the ones you can buy yourself so no need to come in for those either," says Lincoln. 

There are some circumstances where a blood test might be needed: "If your healthcare provider is concerned about an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage, or you are undergoing fertility treatments, a blood test may be recommended, but other than that they aren't usually needed."

Insider's takeaway 

If you take an at-home pregnancy test correctly and see a faint line, it either means you are pregnant or have recently been pregnant and miscarried. 

The best time to test for a pregnancy is the day you would expect your period to come.

When you take a pregnancy test, the control line shows that the test is working, and the test line shows the results. If a second line appears (pink or blue) – even a faint one – the test has detected the pregnancy hormone in your urine. See your healthcare provider to confirm you are pregnant.

Sometimes people confuse other lines on pregnancy tests for a positive result. The important thing to look for is a second line that develops color. A shadowy, shiny, colorless mark on a pregnancy test is not a positive. If you’re ever unsure of your pregnancy test result, repeat using another test, or see your doctor.

How Does a Pregnancy Test Work?

For a quick primer, at-home pregnancy tests check your urine for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin hormone, or hCG, which ramps up quickly in your body after fertilization. The lines on a pregnancy test develop color if hCG is detected.

An at-home First Response™ pregnancy test works like this:

• Special reagents are deposited at 2 locations on a pregnancy test strip, forming the “control line” and the “test line.”
• These test reagents may appear as off-white/slightly gray lines on the test strip – before or after use. In a First Response™ pregnancy test, these reagents are gold nanoparticles, which appear pink in color. They are responsible for turning the lines pink once the test is used.
• If no hCG is detected in your urine, only the control line will appear pink colored. If hCG is present in the urine, both the test line and control line will appear pink. Two pink lines indicate a positive result, even if one line is fainter than the other.

Some tests, like First Response™ Early Result Pregnancy Tests, are very sensitive and can detect lower levels of hCG so you can test as early as 6 days sooner.*

What is a Control Line on a Pregnancy Test?

The control line lets you know the test is working correctly. Every non-digital pregnancy test has two lines that are either parallel to each other or form a plus sign. The control line is not a positive result.

If a control line does not appear after exposing the test to urine, the test is not working properly. You should dispose of the pregnancy test and use another one.

What is the Test Line on a Pregnancy Test?

The test line is the line that appears on an at-home pregnancy test if hCG is detected in your urine. If this line does not change color – turning pink for First Response™ – then the test did not detect hCG and you are most likely not pregnant.

In many cases, when you are using a First Response™ test, the test line may be a fainter pink than the control line, which is sometimes quite dark. A test line can be faint pink if your urine is diluted or it’s very early in your pregnancy. Not-to-worry, though. Even a faintly pink-colored test line indicates a positive result. Simply put, if there is color on the test line, it’s time to check in with your doctor to confirm a pregnancy.

I’m Still Not Sure if it’s a Faint Positive

Follow these tips for what to do if you’re unsure about your pregnancy test result:

• Wait a couple days and test again if you still haven’t gotten your period.
• Take the test first thing in the morning or after holding your urine for several hours.
• Open the test envelope and use it right away (always check to make sure it’s not expired first).
• Have a First Response pregnancy test on hand for when you expect your period. You can use First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test or the Digital Pregnancy Test as soon as 6 days before your expected period or the Rapid Result Pregnancy Test on the day of your missed period.
• If you don’t want to worry about whether a line is a faint positive, use the Digital Pregnancy Test for a clear “Yes+” or “No-“ result or use the First Response™ EasyReadApp to scan your First Response Early Result or Rapid Result pregnancy test and convert the results into the words “Pregnant” or “Not Pregnant.”

Testing with a First Response Pregnancy Test

There are a variety of First Response pregnancy tests to choose from when you want to see if you are pregnant. The First Response™ Triple Check Pregnancy Test Kit includes three different types of pregnancy tests all in one box. For added assurance, First Response™ Comfort Check Pregnancy Test Pack comes with 3 First Response™ Early Result Tests and 5 First Response™ Pregnancy Test Strips, so you can test early and often.

When it comes to your pregnancy test results, you want to know for sure. That’s why we created the First Response™ Easy Read App. Download the app to your phone and scan your First Response™ Early Result or Rapid Result test results. The app will interpret the test lines for you and display the words “Pregnant” or “Not Pregnant.”

With the Easy Read App, you won’t be left wondering, “is it a faint positive?” Scan your tests results and get the comfort of certainty.

And as always, visit your doctor for confirmation if you suspect a pregnancy test may be positive.

* FIRST RESPONSE™ detects the pregnancy hormone 6 days sooner than the day of your missed period (5 days before the day of expected period). In laboratory testing, First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test detected the pregnancy hormone levels in 76% of pregnant women 5 days before their expected period. See package for details about testing early.

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