I’m panicking. This means what I think it means, doesn’t it?

[TotalAndUtterPanic]

This is a BFP isn’t it?

Been feeling nauseous for a couple of weeks. Took a test a week ago and got a negative. Nearly threw up on my run this morning so thought I’d just double check.

I’ve had an ablation, I’m on contraception. There’s only one option for me.

But the sideways line hasn’t come up. Does that mean I’m panicking unnecessarily?

Anyway, go for FRERs next time!

Pregnancy tests I did had two lines in them- both parallel - one line = not pregnant (control) and two lines = pregnant. Pretty straightforward. Can't see why you'd add in a perpendicular line.

Maybe you now need to investigate why you're feeling nauseous?

Its not really. I've used those tests and the instructions are quite clear about the control panel and the test panel. The control panel is small, the test panel much larger and that has the pictures showing you what a negative and positive look like next to it but away from the control panel. Neither the control panel nor the test window when negative look like the cross needed for a positive test.

None of that negates the fact that it’s badly designed.

It's negative! It tells you what shows for negative and what shows for positive, how confusing can it be?!

@IckleBear

It's negative! It tells you what shows for negative and what shows for positive, how confusing can it be?!

It's unbelievable how many posters are having difficulties with this 😬 Makes you wonder how they navigate life in general when something so clearly signposted can throw them off balance.

@PullMeInToTheScreen What about vertical main line and vertical control line (but no cross in either)? Does the horizontal line not also work as a control? if there is a vertical line in both there is no cross and a control line which is what I said.

[quote MyDcAreMarvel]**@PullMeInToTheScreen* What about vertical main line and vertical control line (but no cross in either)? Does the horizontal line not also work as a control?* if there is a vertical line in both there is no cross and a control line which is what I said.[/quote]
But the diagram doesn't say that that means 'not pregnant'. Not pregnant is the appearance of a horizontal line!

It's unbelievable how many posters are having difficulties with this
I don't think anyone has said it's difficult to work out this result.
A few posters have made the point that the design is oddly chosen and could be clearer, even though it has passed the threshold of everyone here, bar OP, being able to work it out with zero ambiguity.

I have done one pregnancy test in my entire life, over 18 years ago. I am now menopausal, struggling with insomnia and menopausal brain fog and even I recognised it as negative immediately.

An this is without the benefit of the instructions that probably come on and in the box. Absolutely nothing wrong with the design of the product.

Glad the results is what you wanted OP.

A few posters have made the point that the design is oddly chosen and could be clearer
I'm not sure what could be clearer really means in the context of something that can be correctly read at a casual glance by just about everyone? (except op).
It's not actually confusing, so could be clearer means zilch.

• = positive

• = negative

@Blanketpolicy

I have done one pregnancy test in my entire life, over 18 years ago. I am now menopausal, struggling with insomnia and menopausal brain fog and even I recognised it as negative immediately.

An this is without the benefit of the instructions that probably come on and in the box. Absolutely nothing wrong with the design of the product.

Glad the results is what you wanted OP.

Quite!

I’ve used those tests a few times and can’t see any problems with the design. I’ve never had an issue interpreting the result.

@GreyhoundG1rl

A few posters have made the point that the design is oddly chosen and could be clearer I'm not sure what could be clearer really means in the context of something that can be correctly read at a casual glance by just about everyone? (except op). It's not actually confusing, so could be clearer means zilch.

There is a hypothetical result (two |) for which the result isn't explicitly made clear, and the op misread her result.

It doesn't tick all the boxes of good UI practice.

@MiddleParking

Its not really. I've used those tests and the instructions are quite clear about the control panel and the test panel. The control panel is small, the test panel much larger and that has the pictures showing you what a negative and positive look like next to it but away from the control panel. Neither the control panel nor the test window when negative look like the cross needed for a positive test.

None of that negates the fact that it’s badly designed.

Yes it does. It means its obvious at a glance which is the control panel and which the test panel.

It's clearly marked on the stick itself:

• = pregnant

• = not pregnant

It would be impossible to have a "two l" result . There will never be a I in the large window without there also being a horizontal line making it a +

Of course I could be wrong, and there is no other design available or physically possible that would be more clear, but on balance my opinion remains that it is possible for people to misread this result where the same person under the same conditions wouldn't misread a different test, such as the "pregnant"/"not pregnant" display

It's a design feature which is supposed to make it easier to understand, not harder.

Normal pregnancy tests have just 2 lines, a control and a test line. 2 lines is positive, 1 is negative.

This one displays either a cross + positive or line - negative. It's much clearer than 2 lines because these are widely known symbols +/-. That's why it's called Clear blue and is more expensive. This type of test predates the digital ones, but same idea - easier to read.

The horizontal line isn't a control line. You still need a separate control to show the test has worked.

Pull - and what if the person can't read or doesn't speak English? There is the potential for any test to be misunderstood.

Honestly, it was the vertical line that threw me. And for the record there weren’t any instructions in the box, just 2 pictures on the outside. It’s a good 8 years since I last took a test (bar the one a fortnight ago) and I made a mistake in reading it is all.

I got the result I wanted - thats two negatives now - and will now see what can be done / the reason for the nausea.

Negative - but maybe you want it to be positive?

I don't get what's badly designed about it. I'm not familiar with that specific test but it took about 1.5 seconds to see it was mega. There's nothing at all ambiguous about it.

Mega = negative!

To be fair to the OP, there is a clear blue that is positive with x2 vertical lines.

NOT THE OPs of course, I’m glad you got the result you wanted, but see here: uk.clearblue.com/pregnancy-tests