*This* Is The Best Time Of Day To Take A Pregnancy Test For Accurate Results

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Pregnancy tests carry a serious amount of weight. So, of course, if you're planning to take one, you want to make sure you’re getting the most accurate results possible.

With that, it’s only natural to wonder, when is the best time to take a pregnancy test? How soon is too soon? Does the time of day you take it even matter?

Here’s everything you need to know about pregnancy tests, including the answers to those questions as well as how they work and how reliable at-home tests can be.

Meet the experts: Lauren Streicher, MD, is a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Christine Greves, MD, is a board-certified ob-gyn at the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies.

Asima Ahmad, MD, is a reproductive endocrinologist and co-founder of Carrot Fertility.

Mary Jane Minkin, MD, is a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive sciences at Yale School of Medicine.

Amy Wetter, MD, is a board-certified ob-gyn at Pediatrix Medical Group in Atlanta, Georgia.

How At-Home Pregnancy Tests Work

Every pregnancy test is slightly different, but they’re generally looking for the same thing: the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), the hormone produced by the placenta during pregnancy, says Lauren Streicher, MD, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

“HCG can be detected in blood and urine around 10 to 14 days after conception,” she explains. “HCG levels typically double every 72 hours until peaking at eight to 11 weeks of gestation.”

Urine tests are the most common ones (and what you’d buy online or at your local drugstore), and the way these work is simple. They contain a special piece of paper that reacts when it detects hCG, says Christine Greves, MD, a board-certified ob-gyn at the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies. You’ll usually see a double line, a plus sign, or the word “pregnant” when it’s positive, she adds.

If you have a blood test, your doctor will take a sample of your blood and send it to a lab, which will then determine how much hCG is in your blood, Dr. Greves says.

At-Home Versus In-Office Pregnancy Tests, Explained

Pregnancy tests fall into two categories: at-home urine tests and the in-office blood test.

At-home urine tests have different thresholds for the level of hCG they’re looking for, Dr. Ahmad says. “Some tests will only turn positive with higher levels of hCG whereas some can detect lower levels,” she says. “The interesting thing is the price of the test doesn’t always correlate with the hCG detection level. You can find some very cost-efficient home hCG tests that can detect hCG at low levels.”

The best way to find out how sensitive the test is is to read the language around how soon you can use it. A test that says it can detect pregnancy up to six days before a missed period, for example, generally has a lower hCG threshold than one that says it can detect it up to three days before your missed period, Dr. Greves says.

Doctors will also likely confirm a pregnancy with a urine test, Dr. Greves says, adding that a blood test may be used if it’s very early in your pregnancy or if you or your doctor suspects you may have an ectopic pregnancy (which is when a fertilized egg implants and grows outside of the uterus). “The most accurate test is a blood test, as that can detect the lowest levels of hCG," adds Asima Ahmad, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist and co-founder of Carrot Fertility.

How soon can you take a pregnancy test?

The earliest a test can detect the hormone in urine is about the six days before the day of the menstrual period that would be missed, says Mary Jane Minkin, MD, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive sciences at Yale School of Medicine. But, she notes, not *all* tests will let you know that early. “The standard ones will turn positive usually a day or two around the period being late,” Dr. Minkin says. Again, just read the label to find out what you're dealing with.

But Dr. Ahmad stresses that pregnancy tests are the most accurate the closer to your missed period you take them. “One thing to keep in mind with all of this—and I think something that many of us are guilty of—is don’t test super early,” she says. If you test too early, you could end up with a false negative test, Dr. Ahmad says—meaning, you actually are pregnant but hCG isn’t at a detectable level yet.

When is the best time during your cycle to take a pregnancy test?

In a perfect world, you’d hold off to test until the day of your missed period, Dr. Streicher says. That can mean testing the morning that your period is due or, if you want to make sure you don't use a test right before you get your period, you can give it a whole day to make sure you did, in fact, miss your period.

“To avoid false negatives and undue stress, try to hold off on testing until the recommended date, which for most pregnancy tests is 14 days after ovulation or on the day of expected menses,” Dr. Ahmad reiterates.

What time of day is best for a pregnancy test?

If you’re going the home pregnancy test route, it’s best to take a test when you wake up, Dr. Streicher says. This, she points out, is “when hCG levels are concentrated in the urine from overnight.” (Later in the day, your pee is likely to be a little more diluted.)

If you take a test in the afternoon or evening, you won’t necessarily get incorrect results, but there may be a higher risk of a false negative if you’re still early on in your pregnancy, Dr. Greves says.

If you're getting an in-office blood test, “a blood test is not dependent on time of day,” Dr. Streicher says.

To sum up, the best time to test for the most accurate results is when you’ve actually missed your period. But signs like nausea, fatigue, vomiting, peeing more, having food aversions or cravings, and sore breasts can also be tip-offs that you could be pregnant, Dr. Ahmad says.

Pregnancy Test FAQs

How accurate are home pregnancy tests?

Every test is slightly different and the time you take it matters, too, Dr. Greves says. Many tests claim to be 99% accurate, but research from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found that up to 5% of tests return a false negative. If you received a negative pregnancy test result, but you feel like you’re pregnancy, Dr. Greves recommends testing again in a day or two.

What does it mean if I have a faintly positive line?

It could mean that the results are negative, or it could be that you're pregnant but it's so early that hCG levels are low (giving you a faint line instead of a bold one), Dr. Ahmad says. In this situation, you’ll want to test again in a day or two.

See below for some of the best pregnancy test:

Clearblue Early Detection Pregnancy Test

Dr. Wetter notes that Clear Blue is one of her top-recommended pregnancy test brands because of how established the company is. "It's been around for a long time, and the test are validated by companies that aren't going to go out of business," Dr. Wetter says. This specific option is said to give results six days sooner than your late period and has an extra wide tip for more accurate results.

Comfort Check Pregnancy Test

First Response is another major brand name that Dr. Wetter recommends often. She notes that brands like this one are often easy to find. Some folks also like to take multiple tests just in case, making the pack of eight a great buy for the price. This might also be a good option for people on birth control who have irregular periods and want to check in over time.

Early Detection Pregnancy Test

If you're in need of a pregnancy test that's easier on your wallet, consider this one from Frida Fertility. You'll get results six days sooner than your missed period date, and it's super easy to close back up and toss away. If you're worried about the process getting messy, consider purchasing their full kit, which comes with a cup for a urine sample.

Pregnancy Tests Early Home Detection Kit

For two tests, these sit slightly higher in price range. Still, it's a great option for folks who like to shop sustainably. For every product you purchase, Natalist is committed to remove the same amount of plastic from the environment. Plus, the company is FDA approved. You'll also get quick results that are easy to read.

Pregnancy Test For Early Result

Some tests only offer a positive or negative result, but Wondfo has an invalid option to let you know if you need a redo—this is way better than receiving a false negative or positive. It also comes with five tests, which is a great investment for the price point. Plus, you can cover the strip with the cap when you're ready to dispose of the test for a mess-free experience.

One Step Pregnancy Tests

Dr. Wetter notes that while brand names are helpful, a standard drug store test has just as reliable. This option from Walgreens is easy on the wallet and simple to use. You can get results as early as four days before you period, and it comes with three tests in case you want to take more than one.

How To Shop For A Quality At-Home Pregnancy Test

While there are many options on the market, the main thing to keep in mind is that it's always a good bet to shop well-established brands. "Most over the counter pregnancy test are very similar, so I would recommend getting one from a reputable store like CVS, Target, or Walgreens," says Amy Wetter, MD, a board-certified ob-gyn at Pediatrix Medical Group in Atlanta, Georgia. "Most of the pregnancy tests we do at the [doctors] office for urine are exactly the same—they're all detective the same way."

She adds that it may be helpful to pick a test that has easy-to-read responses. For example, maybe you want a test that says "pregnant" and "not pregnant," versus a plus and minus sign or line marks. It all comes down to personal preference.

How Our Team Chose The Best Pregnancy Tests

For the past few years, Women’s Health editors, including freelance writer Korin Miller and our editorial assistant Sabrina Talbert have been researching the most popular and top-rated pregnancy tests. Our team consulted board-certified ob-gyns Dr. Amy Wetter and Dr. Christine Greves, clinical professors of obstetrics and gynecology Dr. Mary Jane Minkin and Dr. Lauren Streicher, and reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Asima Ahmad for the story. The editors went through online reviews from verified purchasers to call out the pros and cons of each.

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