My First Response, get a blood test!
Written: Apr 06 '00 (Updated Apr 08 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Convenient, over 99% accurate..
Cons: when it's POSITIVE!
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| DnDn4kidz's Full Review: First Response 1-Step Pregnancy Test |
**WARNING:This is a PREGNANCY test review, therefore it mentions some 'female' issues! If you are offended by female issues, don't read!
I have four children. Next month, I will be celebrating my 11th wedding anniversary. I was married for four years before we decided to have children. What do these three things have in common? A LOT of pregnancy tests, that's what!
I'm one of the 'lucky' women who can not use any kind of 'hormonal' birth control, which means our 'means' are somewhat less accurate. Though all four of my children were 'planned'(well, okay, my 3rd child was a pleasant surprise), we did try to plan them. Of course, no method of birth control(other than abstinence, and my husband for one, doesn't go for that too often :), there have been several, "OMGosh, I'm late" months.
I have used many brands/types of pregnancy tests over the years. I've used the kind that require a chemistry degree to use(you know, the 'put three drops of urine in vial, and swish around for 30 seconds' types). I've used the 'catch urine in mid-stream, dip stick in urine, let stand for 3 minutes' kind.
The First Response was actually one of the absolute most convenient types of test to use. You simply hold the tip of the test stick in your stream of urine, push the 'cover' over the test tip, and wait. No vials, no mixing, no measuring.
The First Response 1-Step Pregnancy Test, along with most home pregnancy tests nowadays, are designed to be used as early as the first day of your missed period. The First Response 1-Step is supposed to be accurate enough to use any time of day, unlike tests of earlier years, when they had to be used with your first morning urine.
The First Response 1-Step is supposed to detect HCG(human chorionic gonadotropin), or 'pregnancy hormone', in your urine. The amount of HCG in your system increases as your pregnancy progresses. Therefore, if you take one of these tests, and it is negative, but you still don't start menstruating, you may in fact be pregnant but just not have enough pregnancy hormone in your system for the test to detect. If the test is positive, you are supposed to see 'two lines' in the 'test window'. If it is negative, you will only see one line. My problem was always that there was a VERY faint second line...almost faint enough not to see.
My first pregnancy was the only one that I received an accurate home pregnancy test reading with. I was 8 days 'late' when I took my first home pregnancy test. This test was positive beyond doubt.
With every subsequent pregnancy, knowing as early as the first day I missed my period, I would take a home pregnancy test immediately. One of the first tests I would use, because of it's convenience, was the First Response 1-Step. What I have learned through trial, error, and pharmacist advice, is that home pregnancy tests claim to be over 99% accurate, and they are, for POSITIVE test results. Home pregnancy tests can, and very often from my experience, do give false negatives. With every one of my last three pregnancies, I got at least 3 false negative results. I would wait at least one day in between doing another test. Finally, knowing I was pregnant(had been there, done that), I would just go to the lab for a simple blood test, which can detect pregnancy sooner than a urine home pregnancy test.
So, my advice is, if you are hoping to be pregnant, and get a false negative, don't despair, you may very well be pregnant! If you are taking a home test in the hopes that you are not pregnant, don't get too excited if the test comes back negative :) For convenience, I would recommend the First Response 1-Step, but follow up with your OB/GYN if you don't start your period if you get a negative result. There could be something else wrong.
But, yanno, I'm not an EXPERT, so don't quote me on that~
Recommended:
Yes
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DnDn4kidz
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Member: Desiree
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Reviews written: 172
Trusted by: 292 members
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