If you’ve been trying to conceive or want to know your status, you may need to take a pregnancy test. You have two options: a urine test (home-based) or a blood test. Even so, most people take urine tests, whose instructions are easy to follow.
Sometimes, a doctor may also request you take a blood test. Unfortunately, doctors administer blood tests in hospitals, confusing patients who are less informed about the method.
There are multiple reasons why a doctor may recommend a blood test, including a pregnancy complication.
If you want a blood pregnancy test, consider visiting a trusted urgent care center for quick and affordable services.
Here’s what you should know.
How Soon Can a Blood Test Detect Pregnancy?
A blood pregnancy test—usually quantitative— checks how much human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is in the blood. A healthcare provider takes a simple blood sample from one of your veins in the arms, a procedure called venipuncture.
The HCG is a hormone during pregnancy detected beginning a week or two after conception. A blood test can detect HCG even in low amounts, which means it has a higher chance of confirming pregnancy a few days earlier.
A blood test can detect HCG in the blood six to eight days after conception. On the contrary, a urine test is less effective and can detect HCG 10 days after conception.
Overview of Blood Pregnancy Test
A blood pregnancy test is more sensitive than a urine pregnancy test. It also offers more information. A typical blood test can detect a low amount of HCG in the blood, allowing healthcare providers to check a pregnancy a few days earlier.
On the contrary, urine tests require slightly more HCG to detect a positive reading, making it more likely to return a false-negative result.
When a Blood Test is Used
Urine tests are the most preferred for routine pregnancies and healthy women. However, a doctor may request a blood test if there’s a potential issue with the pregnancy.
A healthcare provider may also request a blood pregnancy test for a potential complication—e.g. ectopic pregnancy where the sensitivity of a blood test is required.
In a nutshell, a blood test is applicable in the following instances:
- High-risk pregnancies
- Fertility treatments
- If the urine tests read negative and the period hasn’t come yet
- Confirm or rule out a possible miscarriage
- Pregnancy complications
- Tubal pregnancy or potential ectopic
Types of Blood Pregnancy Tests
Qualitative Blood Pregnancy Test
A blood qualitative test is similar to a urine test, which detects the amount of HCG in your blood to give a positive or negative reading. Results of a qualitative blood test are precise— they state, yes, there’s HCG blood in the bloodstream, and you’re pregnant.
Alternatively, they can state there was no HCG in the blood, and you’re not pregnant.
Quantitative Blood Test
A doctor or a midwife can request a quantitative blood test, which provides more information than whether you’re pregnant. Quantitative blood tests can pick lower levels of HCG in the blood and measure precisely the levels of HCG in the bloodstream.
The healthcare provider can order and compare several quantitative blood tests over time. The amount of HCG in the blood doubles every two days during early pregnancy. Doctors often request multiple blood pregnancy tests 48 hours apart to track HCG levels and the progress of the pregnancy when necessary.
The quantitative blood test is ideal for checking a potential pregnancy complication. Even so, blood pregnancy tests are stressful and expensive and may not be done routinely or as needed for all pregnant women.
Here’s how you can interpret a quantitative blood test:
A normal blood test outcome shows HCG levels rapidly rising in the first trimester and then declining and starting to decline after 10 weeks. HCG levels then stabilize at around 16 weeks and for the remainder of the pregnancy.
If the trend follows a different path(abnormal results), it could mean several things.
A higher-than-expected HCG may indicate:
- Infection of the uterus
- Malignant tumors
- Ovarian cancer
- A normal pregnancy further along in gestation
- Non-cancerous uterus tumors
- More than one fetus—e.g. twins or triplets
A lower-than-normal HCG could indicate:
- Possible death of the fetus
- Complete or incomplete miscarriage
- Ectopic pregnancy
How Long Does a Blood Pregnancy Test Take
A blood pregnancy test takes a few days before a doctor advises the patient about the result.
When Can You Take a Pregnancy Test?
You may need a pregnancy test if you think you’re pregnant. The most obvious indicator of a possible pregnancy is a missed period. Even so, pregnancy symptoms vary from one person to another.
Other common signs of early pregnancy include:
- Tender and swollen breasts
- A frequent need to urinate
- Fatigue
- Vomiting and Nausea
- Feeling bloated
Some people experience less apparent signs like light spotting, cramping, constipation, food aversions, and nasal congestion.
How Early Can You Take a Pregnancy Test
Taking a pregnancy test after your period is due is advisable to avoid the likelihood of a false-negative. Take the test at least a day after you expect the period to start. The earlier you test, the higher the possibility of getting a false negative.
If you have irregular periods or don’t keep a period chart, take the test after the most extended period cycle has lapsed. For example, if your period is 30-36 days, take the test on day 37 or later.
Try Lifeline Urgent Care Pregnancy Testing Services
If you recently did a urine test, it could miss several things. For instance, it could indicate a negative outcome, yet you’re pregnant. A doctor may, therefore, order a blood test to cast away doubts and check the progress of the pregnancy.
That said, consider taking a pregnancy test from an urgent care center that offers comprehensive pregnancy testing services for an assured result.
Lifeline Urgent Care has a fully equipped laboratory and certified physicians ready to assist you.
Contact us online or call us at 866-950-5490 to book an appointment.