title: An evaluation of the sensitivity of five home pregnancy tests to known concentrations of human chorionic gonadotropin.
abstract: A study was conducted to evaluate the sensitivity of the five commercially available home pregnancy testing kits. Known amounts of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) were diluted in pooled, sterile male urine. Varying concentrations of hCG were randomly assigned to 100 kits of each of the five brands. The test results were read independently by three individuals who were blinded to the hCG concentrations. Statistical analysis were based on the majority vote of the readers. The rank-ordered sensitivity of the five home pregnancy tests, expressed as the proportion of positive results for the range of hCG concentrations studied, was as follows: (1) Predictor, (2) e.p.t., (3) Acu-Test, (4) Answer, and (5) Daisy 2. Overall, Predictor and e.p.t. appear to be more accurate than Acu-Test or Answer. Only Daisy 2 was found to be significantly different from the other brands. However, the currently marketed Daisy 2 pregnancy test is manufactured by a different company.
mesh_terms: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000032:analysis; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011259:Pregnancy Tests, Immunologic; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic