You can get a positive pregnancy test result as early as about 6 to 10 days after conception, depending on the sensitivity of the test and when implantation occurs.
- Some of the most sensitive home pregnancy tests can detect the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) as early as 6 days before your missed period, which corresponds to roughly 8 to 10 days after ovulation or conception
- Trace levels of hCG may be detectable in urine as early as 7 to 9 days after ovulation, when implantation begins to occur
- In many cases, a positive result can appear around 10 days after conception, but testing too early can lead to false negatives because hCG levels may not be high enough yet
- For best accuracy, it is generally recommended to wait until the day of your missed period or later to take a pregnancy test, as hCG levels rise rapidly and tests are over 99% accurate from that point onward
- When testing early, using the first morning urine can improve detection since hCG concentration is highest then
In summary, while some early detection tests allow you to test about 6 days before your missed period, waiting until your period is due or missed yields the most reliable positive result. If testing early yields a negative result but pregnancy is still suspected, retesting a few days later is advised.
