Remote Primary Health Care Manuals

Pregnancy testing

  • Urine test positive 2–3 weeks after woman becomes pregnant — about 4 weeks after last period. Less reliable before this and at 8–12 weeks after missed period
  • Blood test can be used to check urine test and to work out how much human chorionic gonadotropin hCG (pregnancy hormone) present
    • hCG increases in early pregnancy
    • Negative result — not pregnant or not enough hCG to be detected at time of test
  • Do test in private place — may not want anyone else to know result or that she is having pregnancy test

Pregnancy testing is done

  • When woman requests it
  • After delayed or missed period/s
  • Before starting new contraception, after late contraception — see Quick Start method 
  • To help exclude pregnancy in vaginal bleeding
  • To help exclude ectopic pregnancy in woman with lower abdominal pain
  • Before giving certain medicines or immunisations

Ask

  • About last period — test may not be reliable if less than 4 weeks ago
  • What result she hopes for — may or may not want to be pregnant

Do

For urine pregnancy test

  • Best specimen is first morning urine, but can be done any time
  • Ask woman for small urine sample
  • Use test as directed on packet
  • Check result carefully then tell woman result

For blood pregnancy test

  • Collect 5mL venous blood in plain tube
  • Request hCG on pathology form
  • Tell woman when to come back for result

Follow-up

Positive pregnancy test

  • Talk with woman about result — woman may want to talk about her options or may need time to think about result and talk with partner and/or family
    • Parenting — have and keep baby — refer for antenatal care
    • Have baby and give to someone else (eg family member) to adopt or foster — refer for antenatal care
    • If pregnancy unwanted or unsure — see Unplanned pregnancy
  • If not experienced in providing pregnancy counselling — refer to doctor, social worker, family planning, local counselling service or women’s health service

Negative pregnancy test

  • If woman doesn't want to become pregnant — talk about contraception
  • If planning a pregnancy — see Preconception care
  • If having problems getting pregnant — see Infertility
  • Tell woman to come back for repeat test in 2 weeks if not had a period