A few stupid, urgentish questions abot HPTs

[OhBolleaux]

I tested yesterday as I 'felt' pg, I am bf my 9 mo and have not had a period since he was born. It was neg. I tested again today and it read negative again. I read it straightaway. I have just come home and went to throw the test away and it now says positive. (It is a Boots one where there is a + or - in the window) I fished out the one from the other day to see if it had changed but this one still read negative. Is it possible that soemthing has just happened to the test? Or does a positive mean a positive?

If you don't read it in the alloted time then discount it. Some tests develop evaporation lines on them when left for a period of time and it can look positive.

You take test, leave for amount of time prescribed, assume result either way and throw away. Any line after that is not to be trusted. The test should be in the bin.

If at all worried, ebay cheapie tests reliable.

If you read it after 10 minutes it probably is not a valid result. Check the packet for the time limit, but many tests develop evaporation lines after the time limit is up. Also I think I have read that there have been issues with the blue + or - tests because the negative line can bleed into the vertical one.

Anyway, the only way to know for certain is another test, but you certainly can't rely on the "positive" result.

good link here including photos of false positives/evaporation lines with + - tests.

Ah brilliant, thank you. I'm taking ds to the GP tomorrow. Do you think I could ask for one then? I don't really want to go and buy another test as we're on a v tight budget this month. Can they do an immediate result?

Yes - they could just do an HPT while you wait, although this does not stop some ridiculously inefficient GP's surgeries (like nmine) from asking you to leave a wee sample etc (fools).

Your GP might charge for the test - at mine it is a fiver!

Wilkinson do cheap tests if you are near one of those.

None of those round here. I have seen some strips in poundland but am Would it be a blood or urine test at the GP do you think?

It's urine at my local GP.
They are no different to home tests, TBH.

I'd try the ones from the pound shop.

My local chemist sells a test called Trueline, which is about a fiver for 2. You have to pee into a pot and dip the test. They claim to be able to detect 25 whatevertheyares of HCG but in fact they detect 100 units after 3 mins and 50 units at 10 minutes (I read an independent report). So they are a bit shit but if you are more than a few days pg (i.e. enough to have symptoms) they should be able to give a result...