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Is A False Positive Pregnancy Test Possible?

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Posted on Mon, 21 Dec 2015
Question: missed period messed up hormone levels from coming off the depo and 4 postive pregancy test but 6 negative am I pregnant should I do another test and wen also I think I concived on the 15th of november
doctor
Answered by Dr. Jacqueline Brown (39 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
If the tests were first positive, then negative you are unlikely pregnant

Detailed Answer:
Hello, and I hope I can help you today.

It is unusual to have a false-positive pregnancy test, so if you had four positive tests, at that time you were likely pregnant.

However, if the tests became negative you may have had what is referred to as a chemical pregnancy.. the egg fertilizes and makes enough cells to make a test positive but then doesn't implant so no fetus develops.

I suggest you see a physician who may perform a blood pregnancy test to confirm what is going on.

I hope this information answered your question and that my advice was helpful.
If you need anything further, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Best wishes, Dr. Brown
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
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Follow up: Dr. Jacqueline Brown (52 minutes later)
well I actually did one yesterday morning and it was postive again and I've had no vaginal bleeding
doctor
Answered by Dr. Jacqueline Brown (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
You need a blood test to confirm pregnancy accurately

Detailed Answer:
The only reason I can think of why your test would be on and off positive is that the pregnancy is very early and your urine may be diluted sometimes when you took the tests. Pregnancy tests should be performed with your first urine of the morning and should not be repeated the same day. The test should be discarded right after reading because some if left too long can give a false positive. This would make sense if you did conceive around the 15th because you shouldn't really test before at least 2 weeks after suspected conception.

With your conflicting results, i think the best thing would be either wait at least a week and retest or see a doctor or clinic and get a blood HCG level, which tests the hormone more accurately.

I hope this advice was helpful and best of luck with the pregnancy,

Dr. Brown
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Jacqueline Brown (41 hours later)
did two test at the docs office urine ones on the 18th got postive one urine sample sent to the lab came back the 25th not pregante should I do another test on the 4th or 5th
doctor
Answered by Dr. Jacqueline Brown (40 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
You need a blood (serum) pregnancy test which is more accurate

Detailed Answer:
Hello again,

As I mentioned already, the fact that you have had both positive and negative tests really are conflicting. I strongly suggest you have a serum (blood) tests of your pregnancy hormone level. This will accurately without a doubt prove whether you're pregnant or not. In addition, there is no rush if anything to do another test because in a normal pregnancy the pregnancy hormone level should double every 48 hours. If this pregnancy is normal, your test should become reliably positive. So the fact that you are getting conflicting results either means that you are not pregnant at all, or that you have such a low level of pregnancy hormone that you might have an abnormal pregnancy. In addition, rare complications of pregnancy, such as ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy growing in the fallopian tube rather than the uterus) can also cause persistently low pregnancy hormone levels.

So again in summary, I seriously recommend that you do a blood pregnancy test at a doctors office. If that result is positive and is very very low the doctor will likely have you repeat the test within 40 to 72 hours of the last one to find out of the hormone level is doubling correctly and perform an ultrasound. If the hormone level does not continue to increase you do not have a viable pregnancy and may need medication or a procedure.

I do not think doing any more urine tests will be much help at this point. Also I recommend you see a gynecologist rather than a primary care physician for further evaluation if the doctor you already saw is not an OBGYN. They may be better equipped to diagnose you properly than a primary care doctor.

So perhaps next week would be a good time to schedule that appointment.

I hope everything works out and you get a definitive answer from the blood test.

Sincerely, Dr. Brown
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
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Follow up: Dr. Jacqueline Brown (2 days later)
I think I'm having implantation bleeding along with yellowish discarge
doctor
Answered by Dr. Jacqueline Brown (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
That may be true

Detailed Answer:
It is possible that your bleeding pattern may reflect implantation bleeding, however, your pregnancy hormone levels should rise normally during that time so your test would not be negative. Implantation bleeding also usually occurs around the time you would typically have your period (if it were regular), which is about 14 days or so after conception. But when you have your quantitative HCG done at the doctor's office (blood pregnancy test) you will be able to find out for sure.

Take care,

Dr. Brown
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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Follow up: Dr. Jacqueline Brown (20 hours later)
Can you do a pregnancy test at the docs office urine sample a day after implantation bleeding
doctor
Answered by Dr. Jacqueline Brown (12 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
I do not advise that but you can test from 14 days after conception

Detailed Answer:
Hello again,

In theory, if you got pregnant and it is at least 2 weeks since your conception date, your test should be positive by now. But again, if it is not your first morning urine doing the test it can be diluted and give a false negative. Also you could have an abnormal pregnancy based on your previous tests so I would advise a serum test (which can be positive even 72 hours after conception) to most accurately determine what is going on with the pregnancy.

I again advise that a blood test really is the best because the urine test may not give you the most accurate picture.

Sincerely, Dr. Brown
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Jacqueline Brown (17 minutes later)
now my implantation bleeding is going from heavy to light to nothing is everything okay
doctor
Answered by Dr. Jacqueline Brown (39 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
There is no way to know without a serum pregnancy test and possible sono

Detailed Answer:
Hello again,

I know you suspect that you are having implantation bleeding, but bleeding in the first trimester of pregnancy can also indicate miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy. As we discussed before, the only way to know for sure is to have a blood pregnancy test (serum HCG) and measure the level, and if it is high enough, to do an ultrasound (or sonogram) to make sure the pregnancy is normal.

Best wishes, Dr Brown


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
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Answered by
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Dr. Jacqueline Brown

OBGYN

Practicing since :1996

Answered : 1425 Questions

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Is A False Positive Pregnancy Test Possible?

Brief Answer: If the tests were first positive, then negative you are unlikely pregnant Detailed Answer: Hello, and I hope I can help you today. It is unusual to have a false-positive pregnancy test, so if you had four positive tests, at that time you were likely pregnant. However, if the tests became negative you may have had what is referred to as a chemical pregnancy.. the egg fertilizes and makes enough cells to make a test positive but then doesn't implant so no fetus develops. I suggest you see a physician who may perform a blood pregnancy test to confirm what is going on. I hope this information answered your question and that my advice was helpful. If you need anything further, please do not hesitate to contact me. Best wishes, Dr. Brown