Pregnancy Tests

Blood or Urine tests and a pelvic exam are necessary to confirm pregnancy.

Urine Pregnancy Test

The most simple way to confirm pregnancy is to buy a pregnancy testing kit available in drug
stores, two weeks after a missed period or earlier. It is based on the detection of pregnancy hormone in the
urine. The first urine specimen of the day is preferred for testing as it has more concentration of pregnancy
hormone. This test can be performed in a matter of few minutes and only one or two drops of urine is
required. If the urine changes colour, the test is positive. The test result can show incorrect results.
Occasionally a false - negative results can be a sign of ectopic (tubal) pregnancy.

Pelvic Exam
If the urine test is positive or if you have any symptoms of pregnancy even if the urine test is
negative, you must consult a gynecologist. The doctor does the pelvic exam usually after six week from the
last menstrual period, to confirm pregnancy. The physician inserts two fingers into the vagina alongside the
cervix while the other hand presses the lower abdomen and directs the pelvic organs towards the examining
fingers. The more relaxed your abdominal and vaginal muscles, the more comfortable and thorough will be
the exam. The main purpose of pelvic exam in early pregnancy is to evaluate the size of the uterus, tubes
and ovaries. The doctor determines how many weeks you have been pregnant by evaluating uterine
enlargements, initially detectable about 4 weeks after conception. Besides uterine enlargement he also looks
for two other findings indicative of pregnancy, uterine softening and a slight bluish colourisation of the
cervix.

Blood Pregnancy test

Blood pregnancy test are the costliest as well as the most sensitive and reliable of pregnancy tests.
The basic type is called the radioimmunoassay (RIA) or beta subunit HCG. This test is often reserved for
pregnancy complications such as a suspected tubal pregnancy, but it can also be used to determine if a
woman is pregnant before the missed period. A blood sample is taken and the test result usually take about
one hour. This test can also establish approximately how far your pregnancy has progressed in weeks.

1) Wavelength selection,
2) Printer button,
3) Concentration factor adjustment,
4) UV mode selector (Deuterium lamp),
5) Readout,
6) Sample compartment,
7) Zero control (100% T),
8) Sensitivity switch.