Pregnancy test Frequently asked questions

How reliable are Telano pregnancy tests?

Telano pregnancy tests are regularly checked for quality, allowing us to guarantee high quality. Telano pregnancy tests are more than 99% accurate, making them as reliable and precise as a laboratory test. All Telano tests carry the CE 0197 mark and comply with national and international certification standards such as FDA. In addition, all Telano tests are produced in an ISO 13485 environment.

Is a light-coloured test line (T) also a positive result and am I pregnant?

Yes, even a light-coloured test line means a positive result. You can assume that you are pregnant! The colour intensity of the (T) line can vary because the concentration of the hCG hormone is different at different stages of pregnancy. The colour intensity of the test line (T) will become darker as the hCG level increases.

Yesterday I had a slightly positive pregnancy test but today it is negative again. How can that be?

An early miscarriage or missed abortion can result in a slightly positive result and later a negative result. Your body starts producing the hCG hormone as soon as you become pregnant. This means that immediately after implantation your body starts producing the pregnancy hormone. Unfortunately, things often go wrong around the time of implantation. Your body then produces the hCG hormone for a few days, but stops producing it as soon as it goes wrong. This is why you may see a light stripe on your pregnancy test, and when you test again the next day you will no longer see a test stripe. The hCG hormone has then dropped below the test threshold.

My pregnancy test is negative but I still think I am pregnant. What should I do?

During the very early stages of pregnancy, the Hcg hormone is present in a very low concentration in the urine. This can lead to a negative result. If you suspect you are pregnant, repeat the test after 2-3 days.

If the result is still negative and you suspect that you are pregnant, we recommend you to contact your doctor.

How does a Telano pregnancy test work?

Telano’s pregnancy test is easy to perform at home. The test detects human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in your urine. Your body starts producing the hCG hormone as soon as you become pregnant. In early pregnancy, the pregnancy hormone increases rapidly in the first few days. The hormone doubles every 2 to 3 days and reaches its peak between 7 and 12 weeks of pregnancy (100,000 mIU/ml to 288,000mIU/ml). The Telano pregnancy test is very sensitive so you can test for the first time as early as 6 days before your expected period. The Telano pregnancy test gives a positive result at an hCG level of 10mIU/ml or more. If you test on the day of your missed period, you can perform the test at any time of the day. If you test earlier, we recommend using morning urine because then the concentration of hCG is higher. Avoid drinking too much before you start testing.

What is the difference between an extra early pregnancy test and an early pregnancy test?

The difference is in the sensitivity of the test. With an extra early pregnancy test the hCG hormone can be detected from 10mIU/ml and with an early pregnancy test from 25mIU/ml. This means that with an extra early test you can take your first test as early as 6 days before your expected period. For an early pregnancy test this is 4 days before your expected period.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of an extra early pregnancy test?

The advantage of an extra early pregnancy test is that you can test whether you are pregnant before your expected period. Many women are very curious about whether they are pregnant and like to know as soon as possible. Especially if you have been trying for a long time to get pregnant, it can sometimes be difficult to wait until the day your period is due. With an extra early test, you can find out if you are pregnant sooner. However, there are also disadvantages to testing before your expected period. In the early stages of pregnancy, there is a greater chance of something going wrong with the foetus. This can lead to disappointment because you first tested positive and then negative around the day of your period. You will then get your period. If you had only tested after your period, you would probably not have noticed this early miscarriage. For example, your period may be a day late or it may be a little more intense than usual. Be aware that these extra-sensitive tests can be a great help when you want to know quickly whether you are pregnant or not, but they can also cause you grief when things go wrong very early. 

Why are Telano pregnancy tests so cheap?

We think it is very important that pregnancy tests are accessible to everyone. Also for people with a smaller budget. By buying in bulk, we can offer the tests at a low price. The quality of the tests is the same as that of the more expensive brands.

At what time of day is it best to take a pregnancy test?

If you take a pregnancy test before your expected period, we recommend using morning urine because morning urine is more concentrated. If you test from the day of your delayed period, you can take a pregnancy test at any time of day.

I am pregnant! What should I do?

As soon as you are pregnant, contact a midwife. You can also call your family doctor to inform him/her of your pregnancy. The midwife will eventually confirm your pregnancy with an ultrasound.

What factors can influence the result of a pregnancy test?

1. Avoid drinking a lot before taking the test. Drinking a lot just before a test makes the urine less concentrated and can make the test negative, even though you might be pregnant.
2. The Telano pregnancy test can be performed for the first time 4 to 6 days before the expected menstrual period. However, in the case of a very early pregnancy, the Hcg hormone is present in the urine in a very low concentration. This can lead to a negative result. If you suspect you are pregnant, repeat the test after 2-3 days.
3. Fertility drugs containing hCG can give misleading results.
4. After childbirth, ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage, it can take up to 8 weeks for the hCG hormone to completely leave your body. This can result in a positive test result even though you are not pregnant. In this case, consult a doctor to interpret the test result.
5. Alcohol can interfere with the result of the test. You should therefore avoid drinking alcohol before taking the test.
6. An ectopic pregnancy is just like a normal pregnancy.
7. An early miscarriage or missed abortion may result in a slightly positive result and later a negative result.
8. A pregnancy test can give a negative result with a very high concentration of Hcg (>500,000mIU/ml). This is called the ‘prozone effect’. The average values of HcG during pregnancy are 5 mIU/ml to 288,000 mIU/ml up to week 12. After that the Hcg values decrease again to approximately 117,000 mIU/ml in week 40. The prozone effect is therefore very rare.

What is the prozone effect or hook effect?

The prozone effect or hook effect is a scientific term for a rare malfunction in a pregnancy test that causes a negative result with a very high concentration of hCG in the urine. The hook effect can occur at different stages of pregnancy. Even if a belly is already clearly visible. There are women who notice the hook effect when they take another pregnancy test weeks later. Whereas the first test was still clearly positive, later on in the pregnancy it is suddenly negative or the test mark is very light. Many women become worried when they notice this. There is a simple way to test whether it is the hook effect. You should repeat the test but now collect some urine in a clean cup. Now you need to dilute the urine with as much water as there is urine in the beaker. The test line should now be darker or show up again if it is the hook effect or also the prozone effect. The hook effect is more common in multiple pregnancies because the Hcg levels are often higher in a multiple pregnancy. If the test remains negative, but you still suspect you are pregnant, contact your doctor or midwife. Only a doctor or midwife can confirm a pregnancy with an ultrasound.

When is a pregnancy test positive?

One pink line appears in the test window (T) and one in the control window (C). Note: The colour intensity of the (C) and (T) lines may vary. A light-coloured (T) line is also positive. The colour intensity of the (T) line can vary because the concentration of the hCG hormone is different at different stages of pregnancy.

View the image for the different test results

 

Where can I buy Telano pregnancy tests?

Telano pregnancy tests are available online throughout Europe. View the Telano points of sale here.