Best Pregnancy Tests for Early Pregnancy Detection [2020 Update]

Wondering if you’re pregnant? Obviously, the best way to find out is to see a doctor. But not all of us have the time or the nerves to go to a doctor’s office and have them confirm it. If you’re going to settle for a home pregnancy test, then you’ll definitely want one that will provide you with an accurate, clear result. It’s nerve-racking enough to take the test in the first place. You don’t want any confusion or mistake when it comes to your result. Plus, these tests don’t exactly come cheap.

You really don’t need all that additional anxiety. And you want to invest in the best pregnancy care and gear early enough. So instead of having you walking down the aisle of your local drugstore trying to figure out which box among all those identical boxes you should pick, we did it all for you and came up with a list of the best pregnancy tests in the market today.

And by the best, we mean most accurate and sensitive.

Top 7 Pregnancy Tests Of 2020 Reviewed

1. First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test

Pregnancy Test For Early Detection

When it comes to home pregnancy tests, there is none better than First Response Early Result. And there’s a study that will back up that claim. In 2011, a study investigated the sensitivity and accuracy of certain tests including First Response. The result was a sensitivity of 5.5 mIU/mL, the lowest we know of, which is great for early detection. More importantly, out of 120 pregnancies, the test was able to accurately detect 97% of them. If that’s not enough to convince you, the test can detect pregnancy as early as 6 days prior to the start of your period. The test is designed to be peed on directly.

While this is a matter of preference, you may be glad to know that the stick is curved to fit comfortably in your hand so you don’t accidentally drop it into the bowl while you pee on it. The tip is also wide so it’s easy to make sure your stream is hitting the target. And the window where the result will be displayed is large so you won’t have a problem reading if there’s one line or two.

First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test

Pros:

  • Very accurate and sensitive
  • Can detect pregnancy 6 days before the missed period
  • Scientifically tested

Cons:

  • Pee directly on the stick
  • Lines may be too faint; relies on you to interpret the results

2. ClinicalGuard® HCG Pregnancy Test Strips

Pregnancy Test Strips

For those trying to get pregnant, it’s only logical that you get numerous tests so you can do multiple checks to see whether all that action is getting you somewhere. The best pregnancy test you can use is the ClinicalGuard HCG Strips. These are literally just stripped that you can dip inside your little urine container and wait for lines to appear.

There’s no special handle, no “window”, and no strip that turns pink. The ClinicalGuard HCG  Strip is a no-frills test. And the price is incredibly low. For a pack of 50 (individually sealed strips), you only have to pay the price of one First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test.

For accuracy and sensitivity, you’ll be glad to know that this has a sensitivity of 25 mIU which is typical of most pregnancy tests. You can definitely start testing early (10 days post-ovulation) and, because it is so cheap, continue testing until a week after your missed period without breaking the bank at all.

 ClinicalGuard® HCG Pregnancy Test Strips

Pros:

  • Really affordable
  • Easy to use
  • You can use plenty of strips in one day without feeling like you’re wasting them

Cons:

  • Some reports of false positives
  • Can’t pee directly on the strip which some users prefer

3. Clearblue Rapid Detection Pregnancy Test

Pregnancy Test After Missed Period

Just like our number one pick, the Clearblue Rapid Detection Pregnancy Test can also check for pregnancy before the first day of your missed period. However, in this case, it can only be used as early as 4 days before the day you are supposed to get your period. While it’s only one day later than the First Response, that extra 24 hours can be nerve-racking. But if you can wait that long, you can save a dollar and a half and get much easier to read tests. Clearblue doesn’t show lines, it shows symbols which, in our humble opinion, is much easier to interpret. There aren’t going to be any evaporation lines to worry about.

Another thing we like about this test is that the strip, which is wide for easy targeting, turns pink to let you know that you got the right amount of urine on the test. The easy-to-grip handle is just icing on an already great-tasting cake.

The only drawback to using this test is the degree of accuracy and level of sensitivity. According to the manufacturer, the sensitivity of this test is 25mIU/ml (less sensitive than our #1 pick). Also, it’s accuracy at 4 days before your expected period is only 56%. That number does increase the closer you get, reaching 99% on the day of your missed period.

Clearblue Rapid Detection Pregnancy Test

Pros:

  • Easy to use
  • Can be peed on directly or dipped into a cup of urine
  • Less expensive than First Response

Cons:

  • Less accurate and sensitive than First Response
  • Blue dye test

4. Wondfo Pregnancy Test Strips

Pregnancy Test Digital

Another great bulk buys for those who are trying to get pregnant or need to make sure that they aren’t pregnant. The Wondfo Pregnancy Test Strips can be bought in varying amounts – 10 per box, 20 per box, 25 per box, and 50 per box. Like our previous pick, this is also a no-frills test strip that you can dip into your urine and get a result within 3 to 5 minutes.

The test has a sensitivity of 25 mIU/ml and can detect pregnancy 1 day before the expected period though some users have reported getting positive results at least 3 days before their missed period. If you have the compulsive need to keep checking whether you are pregnant or not, then this is a great buy for you. It is a little bit more expensive than ClinicalGuard but it’s a trusted brand that has been around for years.

Just be aware that there have been reports of dye runs that cause the test to show you a false positive. Also, not all sellers on Amazon are offering legitimate Wondfo Pregnancy Test Strips so be careful.

Wondfo Pregnancy Test Strips

Pros:

  • Easy to use
  • Has been reported to detect pregnancy at least 3 days before missed period
  • Affordable

Cons:

  • Some sellers offer fake products
  • Some buyers have reported false positives
  • Can’t pee directly on the strip

5. Easy@Home Pregnancy Test – hCG Midstream – 5 Pack

Pregnancy Test Digital

This home pregnancy test from Easy@Home isn’t as cheap as the test strips we’ve reviewed. But it also doesn’t cost as much as the First Response test. What we like about this test, aside from its low price, is the fact that you can choose to pee directly on the stick or dip the tip into a container of urine for 10 seconds. The test comes with an easy-to-hold handle so it’s not awkward to hold while you’re peeing on it.

While it’s not as good as detecting pregnancy early (before your missed period) as some of our picks, it can still do the job. The results do not appear as fast as others as well. However, it is easy to use, easy to read, and easily affordable. This is a great option if you’re trying to conceive (TTC) and you’d rather have this kind of test than a strip.

Easy@Home Pregnancy Test - hCG Midstream - 5 Pack

Pros:

  • Easy to use
  • Option to pee on the stick
  • Ergonomic handle

Cons:

  • Not as good when detecting pregnancy early
  • Not as cheap as test strips
  • The glass on the window can make it a bit hard to read the results sometimes

6. E.p.t Early Pregnancy Test

Pregnancy Test Digital

The e.p.t. Early Pregnancy Test is one of the cheapest early detector tests we’ve found that is quite accurate in its readings. It had an easy-to-hold thumb grip that allows you to comfortably hold the test while peeing on it or dipping it into your urine collected in a container. The test can be used 5 days prior to your missed period and has been known to provide accurate results.

The results are very faint though so you may have a hard time squinting to get the reading. Also, e.p.t. uses a blue dye that is notorious for evaporation lines, possibly leading you to believe you’re pregnant when you’re not. While this is not our favorite early detection test, it can certainly work for you in a pinch. And the price really can’t be beaten.

E.p.t Early Pregnancy Test

Pros:

  • Affordable
  • Easy to use
  • Can detect pregnancy as early as 5 days before the missed period

Cons:

  • Uses blue dye
  • Has been reported by a few as producing false positives

7. Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test with Smart Countdown

Pregnancy Test Digital

Clearblue is certainly one of the leading brands in pregnancy tests. And this particular product is one of the manufacturer’s bestsellers because it’s a digital test. What does that mean? Well, this kind of test takes the guesswork out of the situation. No more squinting to try to determine whether what you’re seeing is a line or merely a shadow.

The test will simply say “pregnant” or “not pregnant.” It certainly takes away a great deal of anxiety on the part of the user. But that’s not all we love about this test. It features a wide absorbent strip as well as an integrated Floodguard Technology. This feature prevents too much urine from getting into the test which, in turn, prevents user error.

The Smart Countdown feature simply shows you a flashing sequence in the display to let you know that the test is working on producing a result which can be seen between 1-3 minutes. You can use this test up to 5 days before your missed period and it has a 51% accuracy rating for this time frame. And as an added bonus, once the test displays “pregnant”, it will continue to do so for up to 6 months. You can then use the test to inform your partner, parents, relatives, or friends.

Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test with Smart Countdown

Pros:

  • Easy to read
  • Uses FloodGuard Technology to prevent oversampling
  • Flashing sequence to let you know the test is working

Cons:

  • Lower accuracy rating for early detection
  • Digital tests have a sensitivity of 50 mIU/ml
  • Users have reported durability issues

Choosing The Best Pregnancy Test – The Ultimate Buying Guide

Before you go out and buy a pregnancy test, it’s very important that you first understand how it works. After all, how are you ever going to be sure that the one you got is the best and most accurate? These things don’t come cheap and you don’t want to get stuck with an inaccurate result.

You have planned for pregnancy all along or suspect you could be carrying a precious one. Maybe you’ve watched movies and TV so you already know that you need to pee on a stick (or something quite similar). But what does your pee have to do with it? Well, when a woman is pregnant, a hormone called hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) which is produced by the placenta once the embryo (fertilized egg) has attached itself to the uterine wall. On average, this occurs around 6 days after fertilization. The amount of hCG in your body rapidly increases (doubling the amount every 2 to 3 days) which, in turn, triggers pregnancy symptoms.

Urine Tests

There are only two kinds of pregnancy tests – blood tests and urine tests. Of the two, only urine tests can be done in the comfort of your own home. The test will require you to collect your urine in a cup and dipping the strip/stick into it or using an eyedropper and putting urine into a special container. Some tests will ask you to pee and place the stick under your urine stream to catch it.

The time it takes to produce a result will vary between tests though it’s usually around 5 minutes. Some tests will show a change of color or have the appearance of a line or symbol to indicate whether or not you are pregnant. Other more advanced tests, called digital pregnancy tests, will display the words “pregnant” or “not pregnant” which, in our opinion, takes a lot of the guesswork out of interpreting the result.

Urine tests have a 99% accuracy rating as long as you followed the instructions to the letter, how sensitive the test is, and how soon after pregnancy you took the test. Now that you know how it works, how do you find which one would suit you best? It all depends on several factors so let’s get right on them.

When Do You Plan on taking the test?

The most important factor when choosing a test is to decide when you want to use it. Doctors recommend that you take the test on the first day of your missed period for more accurate results. If you really can’t wait that long, you will need to take a pregnancy test that is more sensitive. What does that mean? You’ll need to get a test with a lower hCG detection number. For example, our number one pick is the First Response Early Result because it really is accurate 6 days prior to the first day of your period which means you can take it much earlier and it will detect hCG levels as low as 15 to 25. Most pregnancy tests have a detection level of 20 – 25 miU/ml.

Keep in mind, however, that a negative result with an early detection pregnancy test does not mean that you are not pregnant because it may be that your hCG levels were too low to be detected at the time. You will have to get another test to use on the day after your missed period to get confirmation of the negative result. On the other hand, an early positive result may just be a chemical pregnancy where you have a fertilized egg that will not survive. It’s best to proceed with caution after a positive result until you’ve confirmed your pregnancy with the doctor.

Do You Want to do Multiple Testing?

If you plan on taking numerous tests because you’re actually trying to get pregnant, your best bet is to get one of the cheaper pregnancy tests in the market such as Wondfo. It has a lower sensitivity compared to First Response Early Result, at 25 hCG, but you can buy it in bulk and not cry about the hole it made in your pocket.

How easy to Use is the Test?

We already mentioned the different ways you can take a test. While you can opt to choose the method that suits you best, it is recommended that you choose to urinate into a plastic cup instead of directly on the test. This is because it helps produce a more accurate result and you can use the urine to do another test if you wish.

Digital Pregnancy Tests are easier to use simply because the display takes the guesswork out of reading the result. Regular tests may cost less but sometimes the line is very faint, making you squint and possibly guess what the result really is. Take note that the longer you wait after your period, the darker the line will be with a regular test.

Pink dye tests are infinitely better than blue dye tests because the blue dye ones have been known to provide false positives because it tends to show an evaporation line (where the urine evaporated) 5 minutes or so after you took the test. Users have also had a harder time reading blue dye test results compared to pink dye tests.

Generic or Branded Tests?

Does the brand really matter? For some women, yes. In general, non-branded pregnancy tests are just as accurate as those that are branded as long as you use the test on the 7th day of your missed period or later. So if you can wait, using a generic pregnancy test is going to be a great deal cheaper For those who can’t, you will need to shell out some money for a branded test but the long-awaited result will be worth it.

I got the Results. Does it Mean What I Think it Means?

When you get a negative result, this generally means you are not pregnant. However, it could be a false negative if you did not follow instructions when taking the test, your urine was too diluted (too much water intake), or you took the test really early. On the other hand, a positive result, no matter how faint, is usually accurate.

It is very rare to get a false positive. These rare occasions occur if you take certain medications that will affect the result or if you use a blue dye pregnancy test. Like the experts recommend, its best to take a test on the first day of your missed period, if not later, to get really accurate results. If you doubt the result of the urine test, your best bet would be to see your doctor for a blood test.

Conclusion

Most home pregnancy tests in our list work the same way; they measure the amount of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) in your urine. The one you choose should depend on your preference. You can either pee on a stick directly, or rather, pee into a cup, and then dip the stick.

All in all, what’s most important is that you follow the specific instructions as explained in the pack. Also noteworthy,  much as most of these are tested and proven accurate, it is vital that you confirm that positive results with your gynecologist for more assurance.