 Pregnacy Tests:-
A home pregnancy test will give a positive result when the level of HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) rises above its normal non-pregnant level. Once a fertilised egg has implanted in the uterus the level of HCG will double about every 48 hours until it reaches a pregnancy peak which is high enough to stop your period. Detecting high concentrations is one of the first signs of being pregnant. Home pregnancy test sensitivity is extremely high with the modern kits available.
Pregnancy test are either urine or blood based.
Blood based pregnacy test are done by providing a blood sample to a laboratory. There are two types of test:-
- Quantitative hCG Test or Beta hCG blood test. This measures the amount of hCG in your blood. The test is capable of detecting even very small Human Chorionic Gonadotropin levels.
- Qualitative hCG Test. This test is simpler than the Quantitive test as it detects the presence or absence of hCG in your blood. The result is either positive or negative.
Urine pregnancy strip tests can be done at home, in a clinic, at certain pharmacies or your doctor's rooms. These tests either require you to urinate directly on a test stick or collect a sample and place it in a test vessel or well. |
 Sperm Count Fertility Tests:-
The home sperm count tests available have generally been set up to indicate whether the sperm concentration is above or below 20 million sperm cells per millilitre (millions/ml or millions/cc).
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has has a standard recommendation that a sperm concentration of less than 20 million/ml may indicate male infertility
Home sperm count tests have the major advantage of privacy. Tests typically produce a positive or negative result.A positive result is one which shows a sperm concentration above 20 millions/ml and a negative result is one which shows sperm concentration of less than 20 million/ml. Home test kits contain 2 tests which need to be done 3 - 7 days apart. The tests work by staining the semen and comparing the depth of colour to a control colour. If your result is lighter than the control you have less and if it is the same or darker you have more than 20 million per ml.
You need to test several days apart to ensure greater testing accuracy. Sexual activity and or ejaculation should be avoided between tests The overall accuracy of the tests is approximately 80% for home users. Subsequent laboratory tests may be required and your personal physician will advise how best to proceed if you have a low sperm count.
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