Have you missed your period? Have you been trying to conceive and anxiously waiting for the “good news”? Or did you have unprotected sex accidentally and fear you might be pregnant? Finding out if you are pregnant can be a life-changing event, and you do not want to get it wrong. Whether you are hoping for a positive or a negative result, the Dollar General Pregnancy Test can validate your hopes or allay your apprehensions.
Also Read: Probable Signs Of Pregnancy – All You Need To Know
What is the One Step Pregnancy Test Dollar General?
The Dollar General Pregnancy Test is a pregnancy kit available at the Dollar General stores, one of the most profitable chains of variety stores in the US, famous for providing a wide range of products at meager rates.
The DG Health One Step Pregnancy Test Dollar General Test Cassette or the Quick-Check Home Pregnancy Test is also known as the DG Health One Step Pregnancy Test. It is manufactured by ACON Laboratories, INC.
How is it different from most other pregnancy tests?
Unlike most other pregnancy tests, which can cost you 20 to 50 bucks, it costs only $1! So you are probably less likely to regret spending on it even if your pregnancy test results do not meet your expectations. It is a good combination of price and quality. Though it is not extremely sensitive, it is 99% accurate.
Also Read: Clear Blue Pregnancy Test – What Is It And How To Perform?
How does it work?
Like most other home pregnancy tests, the Dollar General Pregnancy Test is a qualitative test that detects the presence of pregnancy hormone hCG in urine.
What is hCG?
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin hCG is a hormone secreted by the placenta of a pregnant female.
When does your body start secreting hCG?
During ovulation, the ovaries release an egg that can fuse with sperm. Once fertilization has occurred, the embryo travels to the uterus. It usually implants 8 to 10 days after ovulation in most successful pregnancies, according to research by A J Wilcox, D D Baird, and C R Weinberg.
This is the time when the cells surrounding the embryo start secreting hCG. The levels begin doubling every 72 hours and reach their peak in the 8–11 weeks of pregnancy. Then they decline and level off. Thus it is too soon to try to detect hCG before eight days past ovulation (DPO).
Also Read: Top 10 Homemade Pregnancy Tests That Will Sort Your Confusion Out!
When does hCG appear in urine?
The hormone first appears in the blood so that it can be detected earlier, about 11 days after conception. But this requires drawing blood and testing in the laboratory. So it may be painful and expensive.
Fortunately, only a few days later, hCG started appearing in the urine. All you have to do is pee on a pregnancy test strip 12 -14 days after conception.
Also Read: First Signal Pregnancy Test – What Is It And How To Perform?
Can you rely on the Dollar General Pregnancy Test?
Here comes the million-dollar question! The price tag can be enticing, but you surely do not want to mess up the results. It might have crossed your mind that buying a cheap pregnancy test will compromise the accuracy.
Is the Dollar General Pregnancy Test accurate? Surprisingly, yes! While not all Dollar General stores’ products are recommended, the Dollar General Pregnancy Test certainly is. It is 99% accurate despite being so cheap. This may be because the only part that matters is the chemical-treated paper that will change color with hCG, and it is really cheap to produce. It is primarily the packaging and branding that increases the price of branded pregnancy tests.
If you are unsure about any pregnancy test, you can check it in the FDA Over the Counter Database of IVD Tests. The FDA regulates One Step Pregnancy Test Dollar General and ensures their accuracy and sensitivity. So you can confidently buy the Dollar General Pregnancy Test.
However, according to the FDA, the accuracy of a pregnancy test depends on the user. Mainly on how well she follows instructions and interprets results. This is why getting wrong results has something to do with the user most of the time rather than the product.
Also Read: What Are The Chances Of Getting Pregnant Before Period?
Are Dollar Store Pregnancy Tests Accurate?
The sensitivity of a pregnancy test depends on the concentration of hCG it can detect. A more sensitive test can detect lower levels of hCG. Thus it can detect pregnancy earlier when hCG levels are pretty low.
A Dollar General Pregnancy Test is quite sensitive. It can detect 25 mIU/mL hCG in the urine. However, it may not be as sensitive as some other expensive tests.
How early can the Dollar General Pregnancy Test detect pregnancy?
The Dollar General Pregnancy Test can detect pregnancy as early as the first day of your missed period. However, the ideal time to check is 3-7 days after your missed period.
Suppose you are anxious to take the test earlier than the day of your missed period. You can use other more sensitive pregnancy tests that detect pregnancy even 5 days before your missed period, but not the Dollar General Pregnancy Test.
If you do not have regular periods, you can take the test 2-to 3 weeks after having unprotected sex.
When to perform the test?
When you are pregnant, your body starts giving you signs. But many women get these signs before the menstrual period (PMS), so they overlook them. You should perform the Dollar General Pregnancy Test when:
- You have had unprotected sex
- Your birth control method fails (e.g., you miss a pill or your condom breaks)
- You notice the signs of pregnancy. These include:
-
- Missed Periods
- Fatigue
- Abdominal cramps
- Breast tenderness
- Nausea, headache
- Swelling in the vaginal area
- Frequent urination
- Mood swings
- Food aversion
Also Read: When Do Pregnancy Cravings Start?
According to the American Pregnancy Association survey on the earliest sign of pregnancy, 29% of women reported missed periods, 25% nausea, and 17% change in the breast.
However, these symptoms can have many other reasons, so it is vital to confirm pregnancy with any test such as the Dollar General Pregnancy Test.
Also Read: Are You Using These Tablets Before Pregnancy? Best Prenatal Drug Guide
How to perform the Dollar General Pregnancy Test?
There is an expiration date on the packet. Do not forget to check it before buying one. Follow all the instructions to ensure accuracy.
What do you need to perform the test?
You need:
- The Dollar General Pregnancy Test
- A clean, dry cup
- Stopwatch
What will you find when you open the packet?
Use the notches to tear it open. When you open the foil pouch, you will find:
- A pregnancy test cassette that has a sample well (labeled S) and a testing window with two marked points, C (control) and T (test)
- A dropper
- A moisture-absorbent that you can discard.
Specimen Requirement
No special patient preparation is needed. A random clean-catch specimen is collected in a clean, dry container. However, rinse the cup with water before using it. Because a dirty cup or soap/detergent may interfere with your test results and invalidate them.
Also Read: Is Pregnancy Wheel Calculator Reliable? Know Facts And Figures
Best time to perform the test?
The Dollar General Pregnancy Test can be performed at any time of the day. But you can increase the accuracy of your results by using the First-Morning Urine (FMU). It has the highest concentration of hCG because it is not diluted.
If you cannot perform it in the morning, you can recreate your morning pee by not drinking for at least 4 hours and holding your urine. Drinking water can dilute your urine and affect your results.
Instructions
- Pee in a clean, dry cup. Like some other pregnancy tests, you cannot hold the testing cassette in your urine stream.
- Place the test cassette horizontally on a flat surface.
- Using the dropper, pour three drops into the sample well of the testing unit.
- Start the timer. You can see the urine traveling up the testing window.
- Wait for the time mentioned in the instructions for the appearance of red lines, usually 1-3 minutes. You can wait one minute longer if no line appears.
- Do not pay attention to any results that appear after 10 minutes.
Also Read: Best Funny Pregnancy Announcements You Will Ever Come Across
Storage and Handling
- Store at room temperature between 2°C to 30°C, and do not freeze.
- Keep it out of the reach of children.
- Don’t attempt internal use.
- Don’t use it after the expiration date printed on the foil pouch.
- Open the test foil pouch only when ready to take the test.
Also Read: Is Toothpaste Pregnancy Test Reliable? Step By Step Guide
How to read and interpret the results?
A single line opposite the C, i.e., the Control line, must appear to validate your results. It indicates that your test has worked properly.
Positive Result
If two red lines appear, you are most probably pregnant.
Faint Positive Result
If a very faint line appears opposite the C (control line), it indicates that you might be pregnant, but the hCG levels are low. It is called an unclear positive result. You will need to perform the test again after a few days.
Negative Result
The appearance of the Control line only indicates that you may NOT be pregnant.
Invalid Result
If no line appears, the testing kit may be expired, or the test has not been performed correctly. Repeat the test but do not use the same kit. A pregnancy kit cannot be reused.
Also Read: Why Am I Having Sore Breasts After Ovulation?
Can you get false-positive results?
Can you not be pregnant despite getting a positive result? Unfortunately yes. You may get false-positive results due to the following reasons:
Incorrect testing
If you do not follow all the instructions accurately, you may get false-positive results.
Defective Pregnancy Test
Make sure you read the expiration date before using it.
Evaporation Line
The time you are required to wait for your test results is critical. If you wait longer, an evaporation line can appear, and you can interpret it as a positive result.
Chemical Pregnancy
It refers to a very early miscarriage that occurs at the fifth-week gestation. The fusion of egg and sperm occurs but the embryo never fully implants in the uterus. So you may have hCG in your urine and get a positive result. There is bleeding around the time of your menstrual period due to miscarriage, which is perceived as menstrual bleeding.
Also Read: Spotting During Ovulation – Answers to All Queries!
Medication
Some medicines increase your hCG levels. So you can get false-positive results if you are taking them. They include:
- Antiepileptics (barbiturates)
- Anti-anxiety (diazepam/ alprazolam)
- Diuretics
- Anti-allergy (promethazine)
- Antipsychotic (chlorpromazine, clozapine)
- Medicines used in Parkinson’s Disease
However, medicines that do not contain hCG have no effect on the test results. Oral contraceptives, antibiotics, painkillers, and alcohol do NOT affect the results.
Fertility Treatment
You may be getting hCG shots as a part of your fertility treatment. So hCG levels can rise in urine 2 to 3 weeks after the shot. In this case, you should go for a blood test.
PCOS
Ovarian cysts also cause a rise in hCG.
Also Read: Things To Do Before Pregnancy – Important Checklist For Mothers-To-Be!
Can you get false-negative results?
False-negative results are pretty common. They can cause stress and anxiety in women trying hard to conceive.
Testing too early
This test is not designed for early detection. You may have to wait for 2 to 3 days after your missed period.
Not using the test properly
You may be too excited to read the instructions carefully. But make sure you follow them to get accurate results.
Reading too early or late
You have to strictly follow the time mentioned on the pregnancy kit to read the results.
Diluted urine
Diluted urine can result in false-negative results. Avoid drinking too much water before taking the test.
Obesity
The hCG levels are lower in obese women. An inverse relation between BMI and hCG levels has been shown by research.
Ectopic Pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy outside the uterus. Research has shown ectopic pregnancy to be associated with low hCG levels, which may not be detected by the General Dollar Pregnancy Test. Ectopic pregnancy is a life-threatening condition and must be seen.
Also Read: How Long Does It Take Birth Control To Work?
You took the test: Now what to do?
If you get a positive result
If you get a positive result, repeat the test after a few days to be 100% sure. It is time to go to the gynecologist, confirm your pregnancy, and get prenatal care.
If you get mixed results
Mixed results may indicate pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, or chemical pregnancy. In any case, go to a gynecologist for blood tests and Ultrasound exams. Get treated in case of ectopic pregnancy.
If you get a negative result
Performing blood tests and ultrasound exams will confirm pregnancy. Repeat the test after a week. Consult a gynecologist if you still get a negative result and no periods.
If you get continued negative results and no period
If your blood tests and ultrasound exams have confirmed that you are not pregnant, but you are still not having your period, consult a gynecologist to find the cause of amenorrhea.
Why might your period be late if you are not pregnant?
Several other factors may contribute to amenorrhoea or delayed periods.
- Stress
- Low body weight/ obesity
- Over-exertion/ too much exercise
- PCOS
- Birth control
- Thyroid issues
- Early peri-menopause
- Chronic diseases such as diabetes or celiac disease
Also Read: What is Medical Abortion? Its Types and Precautions
Pros of the Dollar General Pregnancy Test
- Easy to use with simple instructions
- It can be performed without a doctor’s aid in the privacy of your home
- 99 % accurate
- Cheap
- Built-in control window that helps you find out if you have performed the test correctly
- Suitable for use at any time of the day
- Does not require measuring or mixing anything
Also Read: How Old You Have To Be To Buy a Condom?
Cons of the Dollar General Pregnancy Test
- It is not extremely sensitive; it can detect pregnancy on the day of the missed period or after it. Some other tests can detect pregnancy before this time.
- Sometimes, it may take up to 3 minutes to display the result.
- Its design is not as impressive or comfortable as some of the more expensive pregnancy tests, which even come with a handle.
- It cannot tell the week of pregnancy like some other pregnancy tests.
Also Read: All Newly Married Women Should Discuss This With Their Partners
Not having a digital display: A boon or a bane?
Most women find it difficult to interpret the lines. It is more convenient to read “pregnant” or “non-pregnant” on a digital display than to solve the control and test lines. However, Christina Hernandez Sherwood says she’ll prefer shades of gray rather than black and white in her article “Why I’ll always use dollar store pregnancy tests” in the Chicago Tribune.
She tells about her pregnancy which resulted in a miscarriage. She used a pregnancy test that displayed “pregnant.” A few days later, her pregnancy symptoms disappeared, so she retook the test and showed “pregnant.” She argues that if she had used the dollar store pregnancy tests, the line would have got fainter the second time she performed the test. And this would have given her the idea that the levels of hCG in her body were decreasing.
Also Read: Why Is It Healthy To Become Pregnant Before 30?
Upshot
Suppose you are looking for a reliable and cheap way to confirm your pregnancy. In that case, the Dollar General Pregnancy Test is definitely a good choice. However, make sure you follow the instructions properly and take the test at the right time. But whether you get a positive or a negative result, you should rule out the false results by seeing your doctor and having other confirmatory tests done!
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