One of the most commonly asked questions that our team receives is, “What causes a false negative result on a pregnancy test?” Sometimes an over-the-counter pregnancy test will indicate that a woman is not pregnant when she actually is. There are several factors that can cause the false negative, including:
Testing too early.
Pregnancy tests detect the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which is a hormone that your body produces during pregnancy. If you take a test too early, hCG levels may not have risen sufficiently. In this case, the test may not detect the hormone, leading to a false negative. We recommend waiting at least one week until after a missed period to take a pregnancy test to increase the accuracy and reliability of the results.
Low sensitivity of the test.
Different pregnancy tests have varying levels of sensitivity to hCG. Some tests are more sensitive and can detect lower levels of hCG, but others may require higher concentrations. If you use a less sensitive test—or one that is not designed for early detection—you may get a false negative.
At-home pregnancy tests should have information on the packaging indicating the concentration of hCG the test can detect in units of mIU/mL.
Improper test usage.
While taking an at-home pregnancy test, you may be nervous and anxious to complete the process. However, following the instructions on the test is crucial for accurate results. Using the test at the wrong time of day, using too much—or not enough—urine, or not waiting the recommended time before reviewing the results can impact the accuracy.
Ectopic pregnancy.
Approximately 2 percent of pregnancies in the U.S. are ectopic. This means that the embryo (fertilized egg) is growing outside of the womb, such as in a fallopian tube or attached to an ovary. In these rare cases, the hCG levels may not rise as expected, and a pregnancy test might produce a false negative result.
Did you receive a negative pregnancy test result, but still suspect you might be pregnant? It is generally recommended to wait a few days and retest. We also recommend confirming your positive pregnancy test with a medical grade pregnancy test. At our pregnancy center in Warren, we offer medical-grade urine pregnancy tests at no cost to you.
A false negative means the test says you’re not pregnant when you actually are. This usually happens when testing too early or not following the test instructions closely.
If you’ve received a negative result but still suspect pregnancy, wait a few days and test again. For the most accurate results, schedule a medical-grade pregnancy test at Bella Women’s Center in Warren.
Yes. In rare cases, ectopic pregnancies may produce lower levels of the pregnancy hormone (hCG), which can cause an at-home test to miss the result. This is why follow-up testing and an ultrasound are important if symptoms continue.
Bella Women’s Center in Warren provides free, medical-grade pregnancy testing for women across the region. Our licensed medical staff can confirm your results and offer next-step guidance about your options in a private, supportive setting.
