Am i pregnant
False Positive and False Negative Pregnancy Test Results
Understand why home pregnancy tests give false positive or false negative results. Learn common causes and what to remember about pregnancy test accuracy.
False Results in Home Pregnancy Tests and Their Causes
Understanding why home pregnancy tests sometimes give incorrect results helps you interpret them more confidently. Here are the common reasons for both false positive and false negative results.
| Result Type | Definition | Common Causes |
| False Positive | Positive test result that turns out to be negative later | Expired pregnancy test, chemical pregnancy or early miscarriage, fertility treatment underway, directions were skipped |
| False Negative | Negative result but pregnant in reality | Test taken too early in term, time of day not optimal, urine too dilute, test not sensitive enough, directions were skipped |
Important reminders: Always repeat the test the following day if results are uncertain. Home pregnancy test results are not to be considered conclusive on their own.
Kimberly-Clark India makes no warranties or representations regarding the completeness or accuracy of the information. This information should be used only as a guide and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional medical or other health professional advice.
FAQs on Everything You Should Know
False positive results occur when a test shows positive but you are not pregnant. Common causes include an expired pregnancy test, a chemical pregnancy or early miscarriage, ongoing fertility treatment, and skipping some test directions. Always repeat the test the following day if uncertain.
False negative results occur when the test shows negative but you are actually pregnant. Common causes include testing too early in the term, testing at a non-optimal time of day, urine being too dilute, the test not being sensitive enough, and skipping some directions.
No, home pregnancy test results are not to be considered conclusive on their own. Always repeat the test the following day if results are uncertain. Both false positives and false negatives can occur for various reasons including test sensitivity, timing, and user error.
