You are attempting to conceive and are about to administer a home pregnancy test. As you enthusiastically tear open the packaging, you notice a date on the side of the box. Additionally, it is the source. Previously. Is the pregnancy test you're currently using ineffective? And does this mean you are prohibited from using it?
When used correctly, home pregnancy tests can be 99 per cent accurate. Certain factors, however, such as the small date stamp on the packaging, can affect your results. The following section summarises important information about pregnancy test expiration dates and the optimal time to take a pregnancy test.
After a certain amount of time has passed, are pregnancy tests valid?
Yes. As with many other medications in your medicine cabinet, pregnancy tests have an expiration date.
To understand why one must first understand how they work. Pregnancy tests are used to ascertain the levels of the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). HCG levels begin to rise in a woman's urine (and blood) within six to twelve days of fertilisation and continue to increase daily after that, peaking between weeks 7 and 12.
Pregnancy test strips contain a chemical that detects the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in a woman's urine to confirm pregnancy. However, the chemical has a short shelf life, and the test becomes less effective at detecting hCG after it has expired. As a result, pregnant women are more likely to have an inaccurate pregnancy test. While false negatives are more prevalent, false positives are possible as well.
In a nutshell, pregnancy tests do expire. And if you use one that has reached the end of its useful life, the result may be inaccurate.
How long do pregnancy tests have a shelf life?
Pregnancy tests, for the most part, have a validity period of two to three years. However, this does not mean that the trial period will continue to be valid for that length of time following purchase. Each test is packaged with an expiration date — but that date is two to three years from the date of manufacture. As a result, if a test sat on the store shelf for an extended period before being purchased, the expiration date may be less than two to three years away.
What is to be gained through this experience? Always confirm the expiration date before purchasing. If you plan to keep a pack on hand for an extended period, check the expiration date before administering one of the tests. If it has expired, throw it away.
Additionally, the expiration date of a test is only valid if the test was correctly stored. Excessive heat or humidity can accelerate the degradation of pregnancy tests, causing them to fail before their labelled expiration date. Keeping your trial in a dry, room-temperature location is perfectly acceptable (such as the bathroom). Additionally, if you have any concerns, the packaging for the test will include instructions for proper storage.
Expired pregnancy tests are still valid.
While an expired pregnancy test may give an accurate result, experts agree that it is not worth the risk. Dead pregnancy tests are more likely to provide you with a false-negative or false-positive result.
Pregnancy tests can be administered at any time before the expiration date indicated on the package. To increase your chances of obtaining a reliable reading, test at least one day before your expected period. Additionally, follow the manufacturer's instructions
.
Is purchasing a box of pregnancy test sticks or strips before conception acceptable?
Absolutely. It is acceptable to store a package for a few weeks, months, or even years — as long as the expiration date is verified before using a test. You are still safe if the deadline has not passed.
The bottom line is that all home pregnancy tests have an expiration date, and using an expired test increases the chance of receiving an inaccurate result. The expiration date is printed directly on the packaging; therefore, verify before purchasing the test. Additionally, if you don't immediately open the package to use one, check the expiration date to determine if you're pregnant or not.
Whatever your test result, you should confirm your pregnancy with your OB/GYN or midwife. However, it is recommended that you seek the most accurate reading possible before scheduling your appointment, if only for your information and comfort. Additionally, if you have any concerns about performing or reading a pregnancy test, consult your practitioner.
Is an expired pregnancy test kit still valid?
In rare instances, an expired pregnancy test kit will continue to function but produce a false positive. A positive response to a dead test indicates that the test identified you as pregnant incorrectly.
You may then wonder if a pregnancy test that has expired can produce a false negative result. Naturally, yes. Furthermore, dead tests are insensitive to the hormone hCG, which results in a false-negative result. Even if you are pregnant, the examination will reveal that you are not. These results are frequently obtained when the test is maintained in a warm, humid environment for an extended period.
Both of these scenarios have the potential to spiral out of control and cause unnecessary problems! As a result, always check the expiration date on pregnancy tests before purchasing or using them. Do not be concerned about the consequences if you accidentally use an expired test kit. Buy a replacement test kit and repeat the procedure to obtain the correct result.
What to anticipate if your pregnancy test kit is no longer valid
As previously stated, expired pregnancy tests can produce four different results: true positive, true negative, false positive, and false negative. Incorrect outcomes, on the other hand, can occur for a variety of reasons.
False-positive tests can occur for a variety of reasons, the most common of which are the following:
- Ectopic pregnancy, also known as non-viable pregnancy, occurs when the zygote does not implant in the uterus but instead attaches to another organ. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience bleeding or severe abdominal pain at any point during your pregnancy.
- When performing the test, errors such as starting or stopping the test prematurely or incorrectly reading the lines on the test strip can be recorded. Please read the instructions included with the pregnancy test before proceeding.
- Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is occasionally found in infertility medications, which can cause a false-positive result.
- A miscarriage can result in a false-positive result because the hCG level in the blood remains elevated for weeks or months after the miscarriage.
A false-negative test result could be caused by one of the following:
- Errors in recording include failing to follow the lines on the test strip or collecting the specimen from the first or last urine drop rather than midstream.
- Urine dilution, resulting in a low hCG concentration in the urine. In a perfect world, you'd use morning urine, which has a significantly higher engagement.
- If you did not wait a sufficient amount of time following your first missed period, this might indicate that your body's hCG level has not yet increased sufficiently.
What should you do if you use an expired test to confirm pregnancy?
Home pregnancy tests are not always reliable and should always be verified by a physician. Specifically, using expired tests can produce inconsistent and inaccurate results.
Three critical factors contribute significantly to the outcome of an expired pregnancy test:
The quality of the test has a direct correlation with the accuracy of an expired test.
The amount of anti-hCG antibody that has degraded in the urine is used to determine the concentration of human chorionic gonadotropin, a pregnancy indicator.
Pregnancy in and of itself, regardless of whether it is present.
Only your physician has the ability to determine your pregnancy conclusively. As such, if you have any concerns about your home test results, you should immediately contact him.