How to Use & Select the HCG Rapid Test Cassette

The HCG Rapid Test Cassette is a type of pregnancy test that requires placing urine in a testing well. Pregnancy tests are available in a wide variety of brands, styles and packaging. Many tests are sold in packs of two or more in anticipation of the desire to confirm results through repeated testing. All over the counter pregnancy tests seek to confirm the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), a pregnancy hormone that can be detected days after fertilization occurs. Most over the counter HCG tests claim to accurately predict pregnancy after the first day of a missed menstrual cycle.

Things You'll Need

  • Timer
  • Collection Container
  • Dropper
  • HCG cassette test
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Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase your HCG cassette test in the store or online. This can be done through any online medical retailer or through your local pharamacy. HCG cassette tests are those that do not have an absorbent tip for urine collection but rather a collection well. This is also the type of HCG test most often used by medical clinics.

    • 2

      Collect your urine in a small container. Urine collected early in the morning contains the highest levels of HCG making it the preferred testing time.

    • 3

      Place urine in the reading pane using the dropper. Most kits include the dropper and will specify the appropriate number of drops, generally one to two.

    • 4

      Set your timer to the time outlined in the package instructions. This is commonly 3 minutes. Reading the results too early may result in a false reading. According to womenshealth.gov, research has suggested that waiting 10 minutes before reading the result is most effective in getting an accurate reading.

    • 5

      Read the results. A control line should appear shortly after the addition of urine. This validates that an appropriate volume was added and that the test is working. This is not an indication of pregnancy. A second line will appear if HCG levels are detectable. Even if the line is very light this is an indication of pregnancy.

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