How do the Instant-View® pregnancy tests work?
What is hCG?
How sensitive are the Instant-View® pregnancy tests?
When can the Instant-View® pregnancy test be used?
Will fertility treatments interfere with the test?
Can prescription medications interfere with the test?
What if the Control Line is less intense than the Test Line?
What if urine was added to the sample well but no lines developed within 10 minutes?
How do I know if the test worked properly? What does the C Line indicate?
Is the test positive if the test line is faint?
Can any of the Instant-View® pregnancy tests be used at home?
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Ovulation (LH) Tests FAQs
How does the Instant-View® Ovulation Predicting Test work?
How sensitive is the Instant-View® LH test?
How do I know if the test worked properly? What does the C Line indicate?
Can prescription medications interfere with the test?
What if the C Line is less intense than the T Line?
What if urine was added to the sample well but no lines developed within 5 minutes?
Can the Instant-View® ovulation-predicting test be used at home?
Pregnancy (hCG) Tests
How do the Instant-View® pregnancy tests work?
Soon after a woman becomes pregnant, her body produces a hormone known as hCG (human Chorionic Gonadotropin). The presence of the hormone indicates pregnancy. The Instant-View® hCG Urine Test is a qualitative immunoassay designed to detect the hormone in a woman’s urine sample as an aid in the diagnosis of early pregnancy. The Instant-View® hCG Combo (Urine/Serum) Test is a qualitative immunoassay designed to detect the hormone in a woman’s urine or serum sample also as an aid in the diagnosis of early pregnancy.
hCG stands for human Chorionic Gonadotropin, a hormone produced by the placenta. A hormone is a substance that regulates the activity of other cells or organs. hCG is released into the woman’s blood once the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine wall and can be detected in the woman’s blood and urine a few days after the fertilized egg has become attached.
How sensitive are the Instant-View® pregnancy tests?
The tests are designed to detect hCG at a level of 25mIU/ml or above.
When can the Instant-View® pregnancy test be used?
The Instant-View® test is meant for use in the early stages of pregnancy (first few weeks) and can be used as early as the first day of a missed period or any day after a missed period. The test can be used at any time during the day or night, though the concentration of hCG is often greatest in the first urine after waking in the morning. If the woman drinks large quantities of fluid (such as water, coffee, etc.) the urine may become diluted enough to obscure the results, especially when hCG levels are low.
Will fertility treatments interfere with the test?
Some fertility pills or treatments may interfere with tests that detect hCG. A doctor should be consulted to determine the effects of such treatments on a pregnancy test.
Can prescription medications interfere with the test?
Most will not. However, a doctor should be informed of what medications (prescribed and OTC) a woman is taking when she consults the doctor regarding a pregnancy.
What if the C Line is less intense than the T Line?
This still indicates that the test worked properly. Due to the design of the test, the lines may differ in intensity; the appearance of two colored lines should be interpreted as positive for pregnancy.
What if urine was added to the sample well but no lines developed within 10 minutes?
Not enough urine was present to wet the membrane in the viewing window and carry the colored reagent to the test and control lines. The test should be rerun with an unused device and more urine.
How do I know if the test worked properly? What does the C Line indicate?
The test device has a built-in control feature, the C Line, which indicates whether enough urine was added and whether it migrated through the test strip properly. If the C Line appears within 5 minutes, the test did work properly. If the C Line does not appear within 5 minutes or does not appear at all, the test did NOT work properly and any result the device gives is invalid. In the case of an invalid result, the test should be repeated with an unused device.
Is the test positive if the test line is faint?
Yes, a faint colored line indicates pregnancy if it appears within 5 to 10 minutes. A test line may be faint in the earliest stages of pregnancy and when hCG levels are low. A T-Line that develops after the maximum viewing time of 10 minutes or more is NOT an accurate indicator of pregnancy.
Can any of the Instant-View® pregnancy tests be used at home?
Only the Instant-View® Midstream Test is cleared for over-the-counter sale and home use. The Instant-View® hCG and hCG Combo (Urine/Serum) Tests are not cleared for over-the-counter sale or home use; these tests are classified as CLIA-waived and can be used by appropriately trained personnel in CLIA-waived facilities.
Ovulation (LH) Tests
How does the Instant-View® Ovulation Predicting Test work?
The Instant-View® Ovulation Predicting Test is a qualitative immunoassay designed to detect hLH (human Luteinizing Hormone) in a woman’s urine sample as a predictor of ovulation. Luteinizing hormone is produced by the pituitary gland to trigger ovulation midway through the menstrual cycle in what is known as the ‘LH surge’. During the time of the surge, the level of LH rises to a level detectable with the Instant-View® LH test.
How sensitive is the Instant-View® LH test?
The test is designed to detect LH at a level greater than 20mIU/ml.
How do I know if the test worked properly? What does the C Line indicate?
The test device has a built-in control feature, the C Line, which indicates whether enough urine was added and whether it migrated through the test strip properly. If the C Line appears within 5 minutes, the test did work properly. If the C Line does not appear within 5 minutes or does not appear at all, the test did NOT work properly and any result the device gives is invalid. In the case of an invalid result, the test should be repeated with an unused device.
Can prescription medications interfere with the test?
Most will not. However, a doctor should be informed of what medications (prescribed and OTC) a woman is taking especially those containing hormones, such as birth control pills when she consults the doctor regarding a pregnancy.
What if the C Line is less intense than the T Line?
This still indicates that the test worked properly. Due to the design of the test, the lines may differ in intensity; the appearance of two colored lines should be interpreted as positive for LH surge.
What if urine was added to the sample well but no lines developed within 5 minutes?
It could be that not enough urine to activate the reaction. The test should be rerun with an unused device and more urine.
Can the Instant-View® ovulation-predicting test be used at home?
Yes; the Instant-View® LH Ovulation Predicting Tests areexempt for over-the-counter sale or home use. This test is also classified as CLIA-waived and can be used by appropriately trained personnel in CLIA-waived facilities.
