Are FRERs a bit rubbish now?

[WeeFamilyOfThree]

Hi everyone - for my four IVF cycles in 2018 and 2019 I used First Response pregnancy tests. They were great - educated me that I had a chemical pregnancy, showed a gradually darkening line for my successful pregnancy thereby giving me lots of reassurance, and they were just generally clear and reliable.

We just did another IVF cycle hoping for baby 2 (which feels so greedy given one baby was a dream come true!) and I'm getting positive tests - however, they're really wishy-washy compared to the ones back in 2019. I've done a couple of Clearblue Digitals for confirmation.

Does anyone else think FRER quality has declined? Maybe they're using less dye?

Photos are 2019 (left) and 2022 (right).

I understand your frustration but the purpose of pregnancy tests is to give a positive or negative result, they are not designed to measure progression although I know many people, including myself, have relied on them for that.

They do the job they’re supposed to, I don’t think they can be accused of being rubbish because they don’t perform to standards they are not designed to.

Hi @Pollywoddles - maybe I phrased it badly as I agree they do the job.

Perhaps a better way of asking is, has anyone noticed a change in the amount of dye in FRER tests (in that even clear/confirmed positives are much lighter than they were 2-3 years ago)? They just seem faded, compared with my photos of strong, dark lines in the old photos.

Hey- congratulations on your positive test. Did you have a FET for your latest round or was it a fresh transfer? Is there a chance that your latest transfer just implanted a bit later than the first and that is why the HCG level is a bit lower? x

@WeeFamilyOfThree Ive had a few frers where the lines are squiggly and less clear, but they’re ones I’ve bought off Amazon so I presumed it was that and for some reason they’re worse quality 🤣

@WeeFamilyOfThree just because they are 'designed' to tell you yes or no the + line does give an indication of how things are progressing (usually), same for me they let me know I was having an early loss which prepared me. I'd recommend maybe buying some from Boots or similar to see if it has a different result strength-wise, the Amazon ones can be hit or miss I feel. Best of luck OP & congratulations🤞🏼

Also, there's quite a big jump in colour from your 5DP am & your 7DP am

Thank you for replies everyone - I was just curious to know if anyone else thought they might be scrimping on the dye these days!

Both were FETs although I think the first one was hatching, so maybe that does account for a difference.

Interesting point about Amazon, too - I've read a couple of posts on other forums by people who suspect some of the FRERs on Amazon are fake. Always a risk, I suppose.

I'm stepping away from tests now - I do know that this way lies madness, so I'll do another digital next week and then wait for the viability scan!