Taking A hCG Blood Test At Home: What You Need To Know

Many women may choose to take a home pregnancy test after a missed period to confirm whether or not they’re pregnant. Pregnancy tests check for the hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), produced by the placenta once an egg has been fertilised in the uterus. 

Pregnancy tests check your urine or blood for raised hCG levels, which progressively increase in the first ten weeks after conception. While urine tests are a popular option, home hCG blood tests are more reliable in detecting smaller amounts of hCG to confirm pregnancy at the earliest possible date.

If you suspect you may be pregnant, keep reading to learn more about at-home pregnancy blood tests, including how they work, when to get tested, and where to get a blood test for pregnancy. 

What Is A Home hCG Blood Test?

A home hCG blood test detects hCG levels in the blood. This hormone is only produced during pregnancy and rises rapidly once a fertilised egg has been implanted, which is usually around six to ten days after conception. 

At-home pregnancy blood tests are more sensitive than urine tests in detecting hCG levels, allowing you to test positive for pregnancy earlier. Whereas urine tests typically cannot detect hCG until one week after a missed period, blood tests can confirm pregnancy a few days after conception, before a missed period. They are around 97-99% accurate when used correctly. 

Additionally, unlike urine tests, which are most accurate when used in the morning, blood tests can be used any time of the day and results are not affected by dilution from drinks. 

How Does A Home Pregnancy Blood Test Work?

A home pregnancy blood test involves a finger-prick blood sample and uses antibodies to detect raised hCG hormone levels; an amount above 25 IU/L returns a positive result. Some tests can also measure quantitative levels of hCG in the blood to determine how well the pregnancy is progressing. 

A typical kit contains a lancet (small needle), a pipette, a test cassette, a diluent solution, a sterilised wipe, and a set of instructions. 

The process involves pressing the lancet firmly against your finger and drawing a small amount of blood. You then use the pipette to collect your blood sample and deposit it into the testing cassette. After adding the diluent solution to the blood sample, you must wait around ten minutes to see your result; one line usually indicates a negative result and two lines a positive.

Why Take A Home Blood Test For Pregnancy?

An at-home pregnancy blood test can help you confirm your pregnancy at the earliest possible date, thereby allowing you to implement health and lifestyle changes, such as stopping smoking and drinking alcohol, to support the development of a healthy foetus. 

Additionally, women who require medical treatment that could harm an unborn baby may want to take a blood test to ensure they aren’t pregnant before undergoing the procedure. 

Other than a missed period, the most common signs of early pregnancy include:

• Nausea and/or vomiting

• Swollen and tender breasts

• Fatigue and lack of energy

• Frequent urge to urinate

• Abdominal cramping and bloating 

Where To Get A Blood Pregnancy Test

If you suspect you may be pregnant, you can have a blood pregnancy test performed in your doctor’s office or at a hospital. However, for ease and efficiency, you can also purchase a home testing kit online to confirm if you’re pregnant in the convenience and privacy of your home. 

The SelfCheck Home Pregnancy Blood Test is a suitable option to confirm pregnancy with around 98% accuracy, and it is the same test used in many hospital settings. 

Other options, such as pregnancy blood tests from Medichecks and London Medical Laboratory, require you to mail your sample to an accredited laboratory to interpret results, with a turnaround time of around two days. 

Take Control Of Your Health With A GlycanAge Test

Pregnancy can often be a catalyst for a person to improve their lifestyle to ensure the health of their baby. In order to take control of your health and better understand how well your body is ageing, consider using the GlycanAge testing kit.

A GlycanAge test identifies how your chronological age (the number of years you’ve been alive) compares to your biological age (the age of your cells and tissues). The test assesses the state of your immune system to inform you of lifestyle habits that are making your body age faster; for instance, a poor diet, lack of exercise, chronic stress, etc. Based on this information, you can implement necessary changes to effectively delay and even reverse the ageing process.  

Once you receive your home testing kit, all you need to do is a simple finger prick test, send the results back to our lab, and leave the rest to us. After 3-5 weeks of rigorous analysis to obtain the most accurate readings, your results will be ready.  

GlycanAge offers numerous price points to meet your budget and payment plans to spread the cost over 12 months. A single test (£289) is best if you’re starting your wellness journey and want to discover your biological age. Two tests (£492) are highly recommended to track your progress as you work towards healthy ageing. Alternatively, a custom plan is best suited to those interested in making long-term improvements to their health, with additional discounts and tailored support. 

Moreover, each customer is entitled to a free 1-1 consultation with a scientist and healthcare professional to help you understand your results and devise a strategy to help you reverse your biological age. 

Order your GlycanAge biological age test today. 

FAQ

Is A hCG Test Kit Accurate?

hCG test kits have at least 98% accuracy when performed correctly in accordance with instructions, making them as reliable as a test taken at a hospital or doctor’s office. Blood pregnancy tests are often more complex than urine tests; therefore, it is important to follow instructions carefully to avoid an incorrect result. With that said, all pregnancy tests may produce a small number of false positive or false negative results, regardless of how or where they are performed.