Can home pregnancy test be wrong if it reads positive?

While home pregnancy tests are generally accurate, there are instances where they can provide false positive results. Here are some factors that can contribute to false positives:

1. Chemical Pregnancy: A chemical pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants in the uterus but fails to develop properly and is lost early on. This can trigger the production of pregnancy hormones, leading to a false positive result.

2. High Levels of hCG: Some medications, such as fertility drugs containing human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), can cause elevated levels of hCG in the urine, which can lead to false positive results.

3. Early Miscarriage: In cases where a pregnancy ends shortly after implantation or during the early stages, the hCG levels may still be detectable in the urine, resulting in a false positive.

4. Medical Conditions: Certain medical conditions, including kidney disease, ovarian cysts, and ectopic pregnancies, can cause elevated hCG levels and lead to false positive result.

5. Evaporation Lines: Some pregnancy test devices may show faint lines that resemble a positive result. This happens when the urine evaporates, leaving behind a visible line. These are known as evaporation lines and should not be interpreted as positive results.

6. User Error: Incorrectly following the test instructions, such as reading the results after the specified time or using an expired test, can result in false interpretations.

7. Rarely, manufacturing defects in the pregnancy test device itself can lead to false positive results.

If you receive a positive result on a home pregnancy test but have concerns about the accuracy, it's advisable to discuss it with a healthcare provider. They can confirm the results through a blood test or transvaginal ultrasound.