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false negatives on out of date strip tests

7 replies

InsaneMummyOfThree · 12/08/2016 22:56

Hi all.so I joined the other day as iv been wildly googling the answer to this question "if the internet cheapy strip test is a year (I know,I know) out of date will it give a false negative??" So I bought some cheapies when I started trying for my last lo who is now 18 months old, a job lot of about 20!!! Lol. Anyway I never used them and they sat in the back of the draw. Af is now 2 weeks late. When I used the ic 3days after af was late it was negative. Iv felt pregnant for about aweek before af was due and told my OH I was. Iv almost used all the tests now as I was convinced I was pregnant and I would get a strong line anyday now but nope, still all negative. I did think i could see a faint line on a few of them but after the allocated time. This would be my fourth pregnancy and iv never had this problem before. I havent been able to get to the shops to buy a "proper" test but I now do not feel pregnant at all. Any advice or info?? Iv posted on other threads that im expecting but now im thinking maybe not!!!!. X

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peaceloveandtwirlywoos · 12/08/2016 23:08

Out of date tests will always come out negative. Go to the shop and buy a new test.

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Bubbinsmakesthree · 13/08/2016 08:58

I just got a BFP off a very (2years!) out of date cheap test. It wasn't one of the very cheap test strips though (it was one in a plastic casing) - I have some in-date test strips which did show a positive but a much weaker line than the out-of-date plastic cased test.

So I guess the lessons from that are out-of-date tests aren't inevitably useless but the cheap test strips aren't very sensitive!

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InsaneMummyOfThree · 15/08/2016 22:11

Thank you both, still no af but no symptoms either. Still unable to go to the shop to get a new test but maybe im just using that as an excuse as Im not sure what out come I want. I will get one tomorrow. Xx

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0hCrepe · 16/08/2016 06:19

My out of date one said positive correctly but I still didn't trust it! Best get a new batch.

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Bubbinsmakesthree · 16/08/2016 19:18

Out of date or not I think a false negative is way, way more likely than false positive. The test reacts to the presence of hCG hormone. The sensitivity of the tests may reduce over time but are unlikely to change in such away that they react if hCG is not present.

Given the cheap test strips aren't very sensitive (my in date strips were showing a very faint line when my two-year expired tests had a very bold line) it is certainly possible that they've become so insensitive as to be useless. I might have a dog around to see if I have any expired test strips so I can do a comparison!

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Bubbinsmakesthree · 16/08/2016 19:19

Dig not dog!

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InsaneMummyOfThree · 03/09/2016 09:26

Just an update for you all. I bought a new test that was definitely in date and it was Definitely POSITIVE!!!!!! I am now currently 9 weeks pregnant (well it 9 weeks since lmp). OH is avoiding the situation at the moment but when I did bring it up he said he was "just scared of the situation we are in" . So there u go. Cheap internet tests that are out of date can be unreliable and give false negatives. Well they did in my case. Oh and just for the record, the no symptoms has turned into horrific morning sickness 24/7 which started last week. Xxxx