HPT Brands

[caridd]

Hey everyone! I recently had an experience with some different HPTs and I wanted to share what I found out. I had my first BFP (which later ended up in m/c) and I used some different tests that I found had different sensitivity levels.I started testing at 10-11dpo. I took multiple tests of different brands on the same day. The difference in each brand was between 1 and 2 days difference of when the test showed positive. +/- are the tests with the plus or minus sign, ll are the tests with two parallel lines.

Here is a list of the tests, with the top being the first that gave me a BFP.

Clear Blue Easy +/-
EPT +/-
Answer ll
Walgreen's Brand ll

and lastly...the internet "testsforless" in the mail. These tests NEVER gave me a positive result!!! My first beta was 93 and still no positive result with this test. The website advertises a sensitivity of 20. I have been using their ovulation tests as well, which have seemed to work well for me so far, but I am still trying them out. The Answer Ovulation dip strip tests from Walgreen's that come in a pack of 20 or so have worked the best for me so far. They are much cheaper than the midstream tests and you get more in the box.

I have heard lots of people say that the +/- tests tend to give false positives, so I would be cautious of using these. It may be due to them being extremely sensitive and may be picking up very low levels before the pregnancy is fully attached and then ends up being a chemical. But that is just a theory of mine. You can go to peeonastick.com and see some good info about different tests too.

Hope this helps someone else!

[BC-Maura]

Hi: I'm so sorry about your m/c. {{{HUGS}}}

Thank you for your HPT information. I have always said that CBE and ept are my favorite, most reliable brands. Both of them showed faint ++ at 10-11 dpo with me as well.

As for false positives, I would define them as a ++ where there is not any HcG present at all -- I consider this very different from the situation where there is HcG present because a pg did start, but where the pg then doesn't continue (for whatever reason). The reason I say this is because I think it's VERY important to document a history of early m/c. I myself had two early m/cs (and a molar) before testing for recurrent pg loss showed that I had a uterine septum that could be causing my losses (and preventing implantation in the first place). Had I not been temping and seeing early ++HPTs, I might never have known that I was having these early losses and I might never have solved my IF issue.

Just food for thought.

Thanks again and best of luck+++++++++++++
Maura

[TNgurl]

I too am sorry for your M/C. However, I do appreciate your time in typing this info out! Thanks!

[Mom2Cameron]

so sorry for your m/c