Are you having a hard time telling if your test result is a faint positive or evaporation line? Here’s how to figure it out. Show
Peeing on a stick (affectionately known as POAS) can bring a lot of emotions and sometimes confusion. Home pregnancy tests might be convenient, but they may also leave you with questions: Is it a false positive or negative? Why do I see faint lines? If you get a faint line, how do you know if that's a positive result or an evaporation line? This guide will walk through how to tell the difference and how to avoid getting evaporation lines. What is an evaporation line on a pregnancy test?An evaporation line on a pregnancy test is a faint line (or rather, mark) caused by a test reaction that occurs when the urine evaporates, or when the test gets wet. Sometimes this line appears in the test window, making it look like a faint positive result. Evaporation lines are colorless streaks, not actual lines. They typically appear if a person waits for longer than the suggested time to read the test result. An evaporation line can also appear if the test gets wet. What color are evaporation lines on pregnancy tests? What does an evaporation line look like?Evaporation lines are actually streaks and not faint lines. They are called "squinters," meaning you have to look closely to see them. Often, these lines will not go entirely across the test. Depending on the type of test, the evaporation line may look more gray than pink. Yet, a faint positive line can be mistaken for an evaporation line on a home test. If an evaporation line appears, it is best to take another test for an accurate result. What can cause a faint positive line?Before discussing the difference between a faint positive line and an evaporation line on a pregnancy test result, it helps to know what can cause a faint positive. A faint positive line can simply mean that the levels of hCG hormone, often referred to as the pregnancy hormone because it is one of the first signs of pregnancy, are low. So, if you see a faint line on your home pregnancy test, this simply means that the hCG hormone level in your urine is low, and you want to try again in the morning when it's more concentrated or levels have risen. How can I tell the difference between a positive result and an evaporation line?So, you're trying to read a pregnancy test result and there's a faint line, how can you distinguish between the two? There are two ways to tell the difference between a positive result and an evaporation line:
The best way to know for sure is to take another test. We suggest waiting a day, since the level of hCG (the pregnancy hormone) in your urine typically doubles in a matter of days. If the line on your test tomorrow becomes darker and more clear, then you can be confident it's a positive pregnancy test and not an evaporation line. How to prevent evaporation linesUsually evaporation lines appear if you haven’t followed the instructions on the test’s packaging. But if you continue to get evaporation lines, we suggest:
What pregnancy tests are best for avoiding evaporation lines?Make sure to find a pregnancy test that uses pink dye. That's because blue dye tests are notorious for leaving evaporation lines. The Natalist Pregnancy Test is easy to use, with pink dye that makes the answer as clear as possible. Takeaways
We’re believing in a positive test and outcome for you! Featured Image by Edgar HernandezWhat does a faint line mean on a Rexall pregnancy test?So, if you see a faint line on your home pregnancy test, this simply means that the hCG hormone level in your urine is low, and you want to try again in the morning when it's more concentrated or levels have risen.
How faint can a positive line be on a pregnancy test?A pregnancy test detects the presence of the hCG 'pregnancy' hormone. HCG is normally only present in your body if you are pregnant. Any positive line, no matter how faint, means your result is pregnant.
Can a faint line be negative?A very faint line may also occur if the urine is too diluted to detect hCG. Drinking a large amount of fluid can dilute the urine and skew the results. If a faint line becomes a negative test result the second time around, it could be the result of a very early miscarriage in the first few days and weeks of pregnancy.
Is a faint line a weak positive?If the line is fainter, the patient is likely to be less sick, less infectious, or might be nearing the end of infection, Vail said. A faint line also can mean the tester didn't swab well enough to provide a good test sample.
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