What can Cause an Inconclusive Pregnancy Test?

Many urine pregnancy tests have positive or negative results, though very occasionally, a test will show neither of these results as depicted in the test instructions. Still, most tests have a conclusive result, whether or not it is accurate; there are both false positives and false negatives, too. With blood pregnancy testing, sometimes a test does read as specifically inconclusive, instead of positive or negative, and this usually means that some levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) were detected, but not enough to confirm pregnancy or too high to register as a negative result. There are numerous things that may be responsible for an inconclusive pregnancy test including the timing of the test, use of fertility medications, or a brief chemical pregnancy.

An inconclusive pregnancy test from a home kit indicates retesting with another test, preferably of a different brand. For greatest accuracy, the test should be most sensitive to hCG levels, especially if it’s taken before a missed period. Tests that can evaluate hCG at levels of 20-25 milli-international units per milliliter (mIU/ml) are most likely to detect pregnancy at an earlier stage.

There can still be problems with tests that may have more to do with the way they’re manufactured; some will just be defective. Alternately, saturating a test with urine sometimes causes test malfunction. For greatest quality control, repeating a test a day or two later usually clears up confusion about inconclusive pregnancy test results, and if this is not adequate, taking a test at a doctor’s office or a laboratory blood test could be in order.

It’s important to note that most urine pregnancy tests won’t test inconclusive except by accident. They do not test positive unless they detect hCG at a level to which they’re sensitive. In most cases, hCG readings below this amount will simply produce a negative reading.

There is a big contrast when a blood test is done, since it can measure the actual amount of hCG levels and determine the result based on the specific reading. Many blood tests see the amounts of over 1 mIU/ml to 24 mIU/ml as an inclusive pregnancy test. The presence of hCG could indicate pregnancy, and retesting in 48 or more hours is usually indicated.

These low amounts of hCG leading to an inconclusive pregnancy test can be attributed to numerous things. Fertility drugs have a known history of both false positive and inconclusive results. Very early in a pregnancy, hCG levels can be very low, so a low reading might be positive, and a second test in a few days would confirm this by showing a higher hCG reading.

Sometimes women are also briefly pregnant, but miscarriage occurs prior to the beginning of the next period. This is called a chemical pregnancy. Pregnancy testing prior to the missed period could show slight elevation of hCG that still is an inconclusive pregnancy test.

A repeated test several days later could confirm chemical pregnancy, if hCG levels have declined or aren’t increasing. Even more rarely, growths in the reproductive tract can also create some hCG and inconclusive testing. If necessary, ultrasound can also evaluate inconclusive results, though best readings usually aren’t accurate diagnostically, until about five weeks into the pregnancy.