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Conception

False Positive warning - Alvita tests

10 replies

MurderOfProse · 13/09/2012 13:05

Before I begin, I need to point out I am a POAS addict - there is little I don't know about POAS. I'll get through hundreds Blush a lot of internet cheapies per TTC cycle. I've also been pregnant six times, so I know what positives look like and where etc etc.

Okay, with that out the way! Last week I bought a twin pack of Alvita tests from a Boots outlet store as they were cheap. I'd never seen them before, but being a POAS addict, I'll wee on anything especially if I haven't done so before. Err, within reason.

I was 8dpo yesterday and thought I'd try one. I used it according to the instructions (dipped in a cup as usual) and a clear thick pink line showed up. At which point I am not sure as I was so sure it was going to be negative I wasn't looking, but it was there an hour later when I went back to look. We're talking 15% as dark as the control line, and strong enough to clearly see at arm's length. The sort a husband could spot Grin

I was unconvinced though, because none of my eBay cheapies showed anything. Nor did the First Response I obviously used next. It claims on the box to "test from when your period is due" which usually translates to 25miu - the cheapies are all 10miu naturally.

I tried the other one in the box a while later and got nothing within the time limit, and the next morning there looked like a really faint shadow. Nothing at all like the thick pink line on the original one.

24 hours later and still no BFPs.

I thought I would post this because I did a lot of searching on false positives for this brand and found nothing much on the brand at all as it is quite an unusual one. The tests seem to be offered by various IVF clinics which is a bit worrying. Hopefully this post will be of some use for someone.

As an aside I've had a whole bunch of pencil thin lines within a minute on ClearBlue Easys this month which is disappointing.. never had this happen before. Also had a pencil thin line on a Boots own brand blue test (said I was obsessed!). This is definitely a cycle of false positives Sad and it's costing me a fortune in cross checking with FRERs. Normally I won't break them out until I see a line on a cheaper test.

I'm not out yet as am still 9dpo, but I know these are false positives because cross checking with six other brands, including FRER, and still no lines anywhere 24 hours later can't be wrong!

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TimeForMyOwnDSorDD · 13/09/2012 13:14

Interesting - I would say it could be you had a chemical pregnancy but it seems a bit early if you are only 9dpo.

Having spent a fortune on hpts I am trying to stay away from clearblue but they are the only ones i really trust, although they are not that sensitive at 40 miu

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MurderOfProse · 13/09/2012 13:23

Definitely not a chemical! I had one of those last month, and that showed up on the FRERs and all my other tests. This was just the one test, out of Blush around 30-40 tests, nearly all cheapies, that I tested with yesterday. I'm sure I'd have seen something else on something (Clearblues aside) The cheapies have never given me a false line like this in all my years of TTC.

I think I was using the Clearblue Plus. Most blue line tests are quite "famous" for their pencil thin false positives. I've had real positives super early on them before, before the internet cheapies, which is why I use them occasionally at this stage. The real positives have no pencil thin blue line, just a very, very faint wide light blue line, as you might expect!

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TimeForMyOwnDSorDD · 13/09/2012 13:26

I had one of those the other month as well. So disappointing isn't it?

Right, I will definitely stay away from those ones, thank you for the warning. I love your username by the way.

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MurderOfProse · 13/09/2012 13:34

Very disappointing! It hit me a lot harder than I thought it would - I don't think the plummeting hormones helped, nor did no fewer than half a dozen of the women from my DS's due date getting "accidental" BFPs that month either! You still create hopes and dreams even if it only lasts a few days.

They're a rare brand but the fact they're being offloaded in Boots outlet stores means people might pick some up because they're very cheap, so I thought it was worth a mention somewhere! No wonder they're being offloaded..

Thanks!! :)

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HaveALittleFaith · 13/09/2012 18:02

I had similar with the Boots tests that have a blue + as the positive. I got two false positives with the two I used Hmm so j have never bought any more!

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MurderOfProse · 13/09/2012 18:58

Yeah, I don't know what's wrong with them. The Clearblues with the wider, bent handle seem to be fine, it's just the other style (thinner) and the Boots ones that do it. How on earth they got through quality control I don't know. The Boots ones are particularly upsetting as it even says in their instructions that a thin blue vertical line is a positive. Um!!

Might write some emails actually. I've heard of people getting refunds.

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ScarlettInSpace · 13/09/2012 19:35

Hi, sorry if i'm being blonde but if thd first one showed an hour later when I went back to look and the second one was nothing within the time limit, and the next morning there looked like a really faint shadow then I think youre confusing faint positives with evap lines. All tests clearly state not to look after the time stated has passed so I think you're doing the brand a bit of injustice I'm afraid...

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HaveALittleFaith · 13/09/2012 19:42

I got line (within the time limit) but only one side of the cross, very thin in that kind of is that a positive? way.

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Pipbin · 13/09/2012 19:44

I tested a clear blue easy this month when I knew I wasn't pg as AF had just left and I had a pencil thin line after a couple of hours.

However, as said above, they all clearly state that you should ignore any changes after 30 minutes.

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MurderOfProse · 13/09/2012 20:48

Oh yep, it could have been an evap.. but it was very dark for an evap and it had colour - evaps are usually grey/colourless. The evaps I've had on other tests have all been really, really faint and have no colour. I'm pretty sure it would have shown up before the time limit at that darkness and colour - in my experience any grey evaps show up well over an hour later.

Most state to ignore anything after 5 or 10 minutes, let alone 30 minutes and I agree the result is invalid. But in my experience (and we are Blush probably talking a few thousand sticks over the years) pink thick lines that come up after 10 minutes are the beginnings of a BFP. I've never seen a coloured line come up after the time limit or within an hour that wasn't a BFP.

This is the first time I've ever seen anything like this so I thought it was worth a mention. I know people like to "trash dive" even though they shouldn't, and I'd hate for anyone to get their hopes up because usually something pink does mean a BFP, no matter how late you see it.

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