You can take a pregnancy test as early as 8 to 10 days after conception, which is when some very sensitive tests can detect the pregnancy hormone hCG in your urine
. More commonly, at-home pregnancy tests may show a positive result around 10 days after conception
, or about the time of your expected period, usually 10-14 days after conception
. Some of the most sensitive pregnancy tests can detect hCG even 6 days before your missed period, but testing this early carries a risk of false negatives because hCG levels might not yet be high enough to detect
. For the most accurate results, it is recommended to wait until the day of your missed period or later and to test with your first morning urine when hCG concentration is highest
. In summary:
- Earliest detection: about 8-10 days after conception with very sensitive tests
- Typical earliest positive: around 10 days after conception or near expected period
- Most accurate: on or after the day of your missed period, with accuracy over 99%
If you test early and get a negative result but still suspect pregnancy, wait a few days and test again to confirm
