Weak line pregnancy test: is it positive or not?

Doing a urine pregnancy test, in the comfort of your home may seem simple, and most of the time it is even if there are situations in which it could create even more confusion especially if a weak line appears in the test.

Urine pregnancy tests all work in the same way, that is, they identify the presence of the hormone beta HCG that begins to be produced in quantity from the moment of implantation (on average 5-8 days after ovulation) and which is measurable in blood and urine about a week after implantation.

Tests differ in sensitivity (as well as cost). On the market there are more or less sensitive tests. A test is more sensitive when it detects low beta hcg values.

Does a weak line in the pregnancy test mean I’m pregnant?

The presence of a weak line next to the control line typically indicates a positive test and therefore that pregnancy is in progress.

Why do some women detect a marked second line and others get a weak one? It depends a lot on when the test is done compared to the moment of conception. The more weeks pass, the more the second line will be marked because the beta values increase exponentially with the passing of days up to 8 weeks of pregnancy.

If a woman performs a test just 11 days after ovulation, it is already that a weak line appears. If the test is repeated after 3-4 days you will notice a second line darker than the previous test and this reflects the increase in betas over time.

It is also important the time of execution of the test that in the first days of delay or in conjunction with the delay, should be done with the first urine of the morning that being more concentrated allows the test to detect the hormone. If you perform a test on a diluted urine because you have drunk a lot of fluids in the hours before the test, this will struggle to detect the presence of the hormone and the result may have faded.

Could this be a false positive?

False positives in pregnancy are rare and are only related to certain situations.

What is an evaporation line?

An evaporation line, also called a ghost-line is a type of false positive that can occur with a pregnancy test.

If you allow too much time to pass between the test and its reading (usually more than 10 minutes) the urine on the stick begins to evaporate, which can cause the line to blur so much that it looks like a positive test.

When taking a pregnancy test, it is essential to read the instructions carefully. The instructions usually recommend reading the results within a specific time after the test is performed.

What should I do if I get a weak line?

If you get a weak second line even by following the test instructions correctly, you are probably pregnant.

The best thing to do at that point is either to do the dosage of beta hcg in the blood or wait another 3 days and repeat the home test to see if the second line becomes more marked. If the next test is clearly positive, congratulations! The time has come to call the doctor to decide with him the stages of the checks and examinations.

If the second test is negative and menstruation begins, the result of the first test was either a ghost line or it was an early abortion (biochemical pregnancy).

It is advisable to always consult your doctor if the result of the pregnancy test is doubtful or if an early abortion is suspected.