What Is the Difference Between a Blood and Urine Pregnancy Test?

Whether you simply feel different or if your period is late, the first step is to take a pregnancy test. You have two options: a blood or urine pregnancy test.

Urine pregnancy tests are immediately available at your local drugstore or at no cost at the Options Clinic. 

Blood pregnancy tests, on the other hand, are done at a doctor’s office and can detect pregnancy earlier than a urine test. However, results may take longer due to lab processing.

Keep reading to learn more details about the different testing options, and schedule an appointment for lab-quality urine pregnancy testing with us.

Blood vs. Urine Pregnancy Tests

Urine

While urine-based tests are the most accessible, it matters when you take one. For example, if you take a test right after sex, it won’t be accurate or reliable. 

These tests look for the hormone hCG, which is produced once the fertilized egg implants in the uterine lining. For the most reliable result, it’s best to wait until at least a week after your first missed period. When taken at the right time and used correctly, many tests are up to 99% accurate.

Blood Tests

If you’re looking for the most reliable option and want to know as early as possible, a blood pregnancy test is your best bet. It can detect pregnancy sooner than a urine test and is highly accurate. However, you would need to visit a healthcare provider, and you would not get immediate results like you would with an at-home test.

Confirming Your Pregnancy

At Options Clinic, we’re here to help you feel confident about your next steps.

We can help you talk through the best timing for a pregnancy test and, if needed, provide a follow-up ultrasound. An ultrasound can give you important details like how far along you are, whether the pregnancy is viable, and whether or not it is ectopic.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment!