How to Read an Answer Ovulation Kit

Ovulation prediction kits measure a hormone in the female body called luteinizing hormone or LH. According to Megan Clarke of PeeOnAStick.com, LH surges 12 to 36 hours before an ovary will eject an egg during ovulation. Using the kits can help couples time intercourse to help sperm meet the egg. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists state in "Your Pregnancy & Birth" that an egg survives for fewer than 24 hours once it is released. It must be fertilized before it dies. Ovulation predictor kits assist in determining when ovulation will occur; however, the results can be confusing to interpret.

Things You'll Need

• Answer brand Ovulation Predictor Kit
• Timer or stopwatch

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Instructions

• 1

  Set your timer to return to read the test. It may take several minutes for the LH to react with the antibody strip to give a result. The test must be read within the timeframe specified in the instructions for the results to be valid. According to Megan Clarke, the Answer dip-sticks must be read within eight minutes. The mid-stream test may be read for up to one hour.

• 2

  Locate the control line, which was the first line that developed after urine was applied to the stick. It will be on the right side of the window furthest away from the wick.

• 3

  Locate the test line, which was the slower-developing line that appeared after urine was applied to the stick. It will be on the left side: the side the urine wick is on.

• 4

  Assess the darkness of the two lines. If the test line is as dark or darker than the control line, that is considered a positive test and you will ovulate within 36 hours. If the test line is lighter than the control line, impending ovulation has not been detected yet or it may have already occurred. If the test line is half dark and half light, test again in a few hours or contact customer support to determine if a half-positive line is a positive or negative result.