Faint Line on Pregnancy Test

Pregnancy tests are usually easy to interpret, but sometimes women are frustrated by pale marks or a faint line on pregnancy test result windows.

Looking for the Line

Most home pregnancy tests have a special "window" where you look for the results. The best tests will have one symbol to tell you that you've done the test right and another that appears only if you're pregnant. The symbols may be lines, plus/minus symbols, or something else. The test directions will tell you what to look for.

The symbols are made from special chemicals that turn a dark color when they react with certain molecules. The first symbol on a urine pregnancy test, the one that tells you if you've done the test right, reacts with molecules that are normally present in urine. The second one, the one that tells you if you're pregnant, reacts with a pregnancy hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).

Usually, if you're pregnant, you'll see a strong, unmistakable result. But what if you see a faint line or symbol, instead?

Failure to Follow Directions

It's important to follow the directions on a home pregnancy test. Make sure you expose the test stick or strip to your urine for the right amount of time and that the correct area is saturated. If you see a faint "pregnancy" line, but no symbol to confirm that you've done the test properly, it's possible you didn't use enough urine. It's also possible that you used too much urine or got the wrong part of the test wet. Or, there may be something wrong with the test kit. Whatever the reason, you'll need to try again with a fresh test.

A faint pregnancy line can also appear if you wait too long to check the results. Most tests tell you to look for results within a few minutes. If you wait too long, the test can dry out and an "evaporation line" can appear. This might look like a faint positive, but it's really just the result of the urine evaporating and leaving a residue behind.

Early Pregnancy

Home pregnancy tests can only detect hCG after it's reached a certain concentration in the urine. Early in a pregnancy, from conception until about a week after you miss your period, hCG concentrations might be too low for the test to register at all. Or, there might be just enough hCG to cause a slight reaction, leading to a faint line on the pregnancy test. One way to increase your chance of a clear positive in early pregnancy is to use your first morning urine, doing the test as soon as you wake up. The hCG will be more concentrated in your urine then. Also, don't test your urine soon after you've had a big cup of coffee or any other drink. Drinking a lot can dilute your urine, making it harder to detect hCG.

If you think your faint line on pregnancy test might signal an early pregnancy, check the sensitivity of the test you used. Some tests can detect hCG at a lower concentration than others. Some require a concentration of only 15mIU, while others require as much as 100mIU.

Faint Line on Pregnancy Test: What Happens Next?

After you've double-checked the directions and are sure you've done the test properly, what should you do when you get a faint line on a pregnancy test? Assuming you followed the test's directions regarding when to use it, the easiest answer is to wait a few days and repeat the test. If it's positive, your pregnancy was probably too new to give a strong result the first time. If it's negative, you probably aren't pregnant. It's a good idea to check with a doctor if you're not pregnant and not getting periods, because this can be a sign of a medical problem.

If you're hoping you're pregnant and can't bear to wait, search the shelves at the drugstore or look online for a more sensitive test. Use your first morning urine and check the result exactly as instructed. With luck, you'll get the strong line you were waiting for. If the line is still faint, check with your doctor. A blood test at the doctor's office is more sensitive than a urine test and can sometimes give a positive result sooner. Don't forget to make a prenatal care appointment as soon as you've got that positive test!

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