10 Home Pregnancy Tests (and How to Use Them)

Everything you need to know about how they work, the earliest you can try them, and how to make sure you're doing it right.

By Sasha Emmons

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When to Test

It's been a couple of weeks since you did the deed, and the suspense is killing you. Could you be pregnant? We know the box says you can test three to four days before your missed period -- but if you test too early, it may not be accurate, says Laurence Cole, MD, professor of obstetrics and gynecology and chief of women's health research at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. "You're more likely to get a false negative, where the test says you're not pregnant but you really are," he says.

Whenever you decide to test, here's how to get the best results: Test first thing in the morning, pop the stick in midstream, lay it flat, and give it a few minutes to work. If it's positive -- congrats, mama! If it's negative, try again in a few days if your period's still MIA. If you get a faint, is-that-what-I-think-it-is positive, chances are you are indeed pregnant, since false positives (where the test says you're pregnant, but you're really not) are very rare. Wait a day or two and test again.

Now, which test should you buy? We did the legwork for you. After poring through the instruction books and trying them out, here's how to use the most popular pregnancy tests on the market.
- Find out more about how home pregnancy tests work here
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Tips for Taking an At-Home Pregnancy Test

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Courtesy of Church & Dwight Co, Inc.
First Response Gold

What it is: A new digital test. It may be more sensitive for early testing because it detects two types of hCG, hormones your body starts producing shortly after you've conceived.

When it says you can test: 4 days before your expected period

How to take it: Your wait time is 3 minutes. A clock lets you know the test is working until a "yes" or "no" appears. A question mark indicates an error, and there's a 1-800 number to call with questions.

What it costs: $21.10 for 2 tests
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Courtesy of Church & Dwight Co, Inc.

First Response Early Result

What it is: A standard stick test that's been shown to be more sensitive than other brands. A 2005 University of New Mexico study found that of seven popular pregnancy tests, First Response tests were best in detecting early pregnancy.

When it says you can test: 4 days before your expected period

How to take it: Pee on the stick for 5 seconds (no more and no less), and then set it down for 3 minutes. Two lines (even if one is lighter) means your eggo is preggo; one line means it's not.

What it costs: $18.99 for 3 tests

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How to Take a First Response Pregnancy Test
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Ashley Craiger
Accu-Clear Early Pregnancy Test

What it is: Standard stick test

When it says you can test: The day you expect your period

How to take it: A borderline-TMI illustration shows you exactly how to pee on the stick (um, thanks). The tip will turn pink, then you wait 3 minutes for the results. A line, even a light one, in the left test window means you're pregnant; the lack of a line means you're not. Bonus: An abbreviated version of the instructions is on the back side of the stick itself, and there's a key on the stick's plastic cap, since the last thing a nervous, possibly pregnant woman needs is a scramble to find the "What does this mean?"

What it costs: $15.75 for 2 tests
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Courtesy of Johnson & Johnson
e.p.t. Certainty

What it is: Digital test

When it says you can test: 4 days before your expected period

How to take it: It only takes 3 minutes to find out if that bun's in the oven, and you can't misread the results -- it says either "pregnant" or "not pregnant." An hourglass symbol means it's still processing. A book symbol appears to refer you to the instructions if you've somehow done it wrong.

What it costs: $21.99 for 2 tests
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Courtesy of Johnson & Johnson

e.p.t. Pregnancy Test

What it is: Standard stick test

When it says you can test: 4 days before your expected period

How to take it: After peeing on it, wait 3 minutes for a line to show up in the square control window. A plus sign (even a light one) means you're pregnant, a minus signs means you're not.

What it costs: $17.99 for 2 tests

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How to Take an EPT Pregnancy Test
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Courtesy of Church & Dwight Co, Inc.

Answer Quick & Simple Early Result Pregnancy Test

What it is: Standard stick test

When it says you can test: 4 days before your expected period

How to take it: Do your thing and get results in 3 minutes. One line is negative, two lines (even if one is lighter than the other) means it's positive.

What it costs: $15.99 for 2 tests

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Ashley Craiger
Clearblue Easy

What it is: Standard stick test

When it says you can test: 4 days before your expected period

How to take it: The tip of the test turns pink once you pee on it. Wait 2 minutes for the blue line in the control window to appear, then look for the plus sign (you're pg) or the minus sign (you're not). Don't worry if one of the lines of your plus sign is faint -- if it's there, congrats!

What it costs: $17.49 for 3 tests
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How to Take a Clearblue Pregnancy Test
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Ashley Craiger
Fact Plus One-Step Pregnancy Test

What it is: Standard stick test

When it says you can test: 4 days before your expected period

How to take it: Remove the cap, pee on it for 5 seconds -- and only 5 seconds (the instructions make a big deal about how more or less time can skew the results) -- and then wait 2 minutes for the results. A plus sign (dark or light) means you're preg, a minus sign means you're not.

What it costs: $16.49 for 3 tests
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Courtesy of CVS

CVS Digital Pregnancy Test

What it is: A two-step digital test

When they say you can test: The day you expect your period

How to take it: After opening the test stick, pop it into the test holder, line up the purple arrows until it clicks into place, and then take the test. A flashing illustration of the test lets you know it's processing. After three minutes, either a "pregnant" or "not pregnant" reading will appear. A "see leaflet" message lets you know there's an error. Press the eject button to pop out the stick (and save for the baby book), and keep the plastic holder for another use.

What it costs: $13.79 for 2 tests

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Ashley Craiger
Other Drugstore Pregnancy Tests

What it is: Standard stick test

When it says you can test: 4 days before your expected period

How to take it: Psst! The generic-brand pregnancy tests on the shelves of your local Walgreens, Target, and Rite-Aid are made by the same manufacturer as Fact Plus -- you get the same technology for less $$. Results appear within 3 minutes, after you see the blue stripe in the control window. A plus sign -- even a faint one -- in the left result window means you're preg, a minus sign means you're not.

What it costs: Walgreens One-Step Pregnancy Test, $11.99 for 2 tests; Target Pregnancy Test, $9.99 for 3 tests; Rite Aid One-Step Pregnancy Test, $12.99 for 2 tests

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