Pregnancy Testing

Urine Pregnancy Testing

The urine pregnancy test is most accurate when you are one or more days late for your period and you, bring in your first morning urine specimen. If you have missed your period by only a few days and the urine test is negative, the test may need to be repeated in one week. Urine specimens are accepted at the Women's Clinic desk (second floor of the University Health Center) between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. An appointment will be made for you at that time to return for the results. Your appointment will be that same afternoon, or the following afternoon. Pregnancy test results are never given over the phone.

If you are interested in having a urine pregnancy test, please follow these instructions:

1. Empty your bladder at bedtime the night before you plan to bring in a specimen.
2. Use a plastic container to collect your first morning urine. Containers are available from the University Health Center Lab (first floor of the University Health Center) or you can use a boiled bottle in which there has been no alcohol.
   To "clean catch" your specimen:
   1. wash well around the lips of the vagina
   2. urinate a little to wash out the urinary passage, stop urine flow;
   3. continue urinating into the container
3. It is best to keep your specimen refrigerated if delivery will be delayed longer than one hour.

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Blood Pregnancy Test

A blood pregnancy test generally will detect pregnancy ten days after the last unprotected intercourse. For some women, ten days is too early to obtain accurate results. Tests done this early that are negative are often repeated.

To request a blood test, come to the Women's Health Clinic between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. You will be provided with a form to take to the Lab where your blood will be drawn. As with the urine test, you will be given an appointment for later that day or the following afternoon to receive your results. Again, no results are given over the phone. back to top

Home Pregnancy Test Kits

Home pregnancy testing kits are available over-the-counter at most pharmacies, including the University Health Center pharmacy. All home testing kits are used with a urine specimen after a missed period. To ensure an accurate result, it is important to read and follow your test kit instructions carefully. If your home test is positive we encourage you to repeat the test at the University Health Center and make an appointment with our pregnancy counselor to discuss your options. If your test result is negative and you do not start your period in one to two weeks we encourage you to repeat the test at the University Health Center and meet with one of our staff to discuss your results. back to top

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