to have used an expired pregnancy test and now be unsure whether to trust the result?

[AuntPittypat]

Have been TTC our second child for just a couple of weeks, and as I had an old pregnancy test in the cupboard I thought I'd see what happened if I used it rather than just throw it away... Well, it said I'm pregnant by 1-2 weeks (it's one of those Clear Blue digital dating ones).

I'm really trying not to get too excited though as:

1. the test had an expiry date of August 2012;

2. I've tested too early (I'm about 5 days away from the date my period is due, and I know even the earliest tests say to use them no more than 4 days ahead); and

3. I've tested at night (aren't HCG levels supposed to be higher in the morning?).

So I know I was a bit stupid to do the test knowing that the result would be unreliable... And now I'm struggling to stop myself getting my hopes up. Especially as with DD1 it happened straight away so maybe it could be the same this time...

I know I just have to wait until next week and then do an another, in date, test. But surely an expired test would be more likely to give a false negative than a false positive...?

I would be less likely to trust a neg result.

I think you're up the duff congrats!

I think false positives are incredibly rare.
You're pregnant.

Am sure even expired digi never lies. Congrats!

I suspect you're pregnant too! Be very strange for it to give a positive result even though it has expired

I would have thought, if anything, a false negative would happen with an out of date one...

Get another test tomorrow and try again. Then you will know. I would think if they have an expiry date on them, it's probably because they are not as reliable after that date, so I wouldn't like to say if the result you got today would be true or not. In an in date test I didn't think you could get a false positive though? I shall keep my fingers crossed for you though.

You lot are supposed to be helping me not get excited, not encouraging me! Thanks for the congrats though - will keep my fingers crossed that they are warranted.

OOopsssss - sorry!

If it helps.. I got a pregnant 1-2 on a cb digi at 10dpo.
Keep us updated!!

The test I used when I was first expecting DS1 was about 6 years out of date! It had been knocking around in a drawer since a very early close call when DH and i were first going out. I did go out the following day and buy the whizz-bangiest most advanced digital sort which gave the same result :).

Congratulations of a most tentative kind.

Will definitely do another test tomorrow and update with the result. I'll be so disappointed now if it's negative!

Maybe it's twins and you've really high HcG levels!

I agree that it's probably right - the fact that HcG levels are more concentrated in the morning points to the fact that you have a pretty high level for it to be picked up this early on (and in the evening too!) Tentative congrats!

With DD3 I tested 5 days before I was due on, I just felt different. It was positive! Good luck

Also, I got a BFP with DD at least 5 days before expected period

Also, I got a BFP with DD at least 5 days before expected period

Have you any symptoms? Sore boob, implantation spotting, disliking the taste of tea or coffee?

EmmaLL25, twins?!!

It's really good to hear others' stories of tests working despite not being used exactly as instructions say. Thanks all.

I also reckon you are preg :-) I did a similarly daft thing, I used a test that my daughter had ripped the wrapper off months before, so when it was positive I didn't believe the result anyway (It turned out to be correct).

Then with my 3rd baby, I tested first thing and it was negative, I accidently left it on the side of the bath. When I got home that night it was positive....... Again, it turned out to be correct :-)

I tested 4 days early with evening wee and got a 1-2 weeks so there's a good chance you're upduffed! Hooray!

Retroformica, no real symptoms, but as someone upthread said, I do feel sort of different somehow. I guess I have been more tired than usual and going to bed earlier to lie awake mumsnetting on my phone. And I went out for lunch today to my favourite place where they do delicious toasted sandwiches, but today all I wanted was a chocolate brownie ice cream sundae and chips .

Your more likely to get a false negative than a false positive.
Do let us know!

I agree with everyone else! A positive is a positive.

Tentative congratulations

I got a BFP on an expired clear blue digi too and it turns out it still worked... lo is now 6 months old! Think I took it when my af was due though. Then had to try about 10others all of which gave very faint lines as I didn't believe it because it had expired!
Keeping my fingers crossed for you!