Positive Pregnancy Test Picture: What To Look For (With Examples)

Alright. Your pee on that stick is about to tell all.

Except, you may not be so sure of the message it’s trying to give you.

If you’re searching for an example of a pregnancy test positive picture, you may come up with several different images.

That’s because positive tests (like positive thoughts) come in many versions.

Can we get a translator in here, please? 🙋‍♀️

In this article: 📝

How do pregnancy tests work for a pregnancy test positive picture?

Pregnancy tests work by testing for a hormone called hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin is its full name.)

This hormone is released during implantation — that’s when a fertilized egg (an embryo) attaches itself to the lining of your uterus.

At this stage, the embryo releases hCG, which increases day by day.

So if hCG is present, it’s a sign that pregnancy has kicked off.

Home pregnancy tests test for this hormone in your urine.

Hence the whole “peeing on a stick” situation. 💦

Pregnancy tests can detect hCG levels early on.

Especially since the sample you test it with is a urine sample first thing in the morning, they’re expected to be pretty accurate to measure the concentrated hCG in the sample.

But because they all work differently, it’s important to read the instructions for your specific test.

Some tests require you to pee directly onto a stick.

Others ask you to pee into a cup and then dip the test paper into your pee.

And it’s important to know that not every at-home pregnancy test is created equal — some are more accurate than others.

If you want the most reliable results, ask our Peanut Community for their picks for best tests — they’ve got your back. 💪

Can you get a false result?

The short answer is yes, it’s possible.

Each day you’re pregnant, the amount of hCG in your system builds up. 📈

That means that if you take a test in the very early stages, you might get a false negative, or it might be due to an expired pregnancy test.

That’s why the best time to take a test is the day after your next expected period — at least 1-3 days after your missed period of that cycle.

There are also reasons you might get a false positive.

If you’ve recently been pregnant and/or if you experience very early pregnancy loss, there may be hCG in your system which will show up as a positive result on your test.

And sometimes, when you have high levels of hCG in your pee, you might still get a negative result. 🙃

Sounds weird, but it’s called the high-dose hook effect — basically, the levels could be so high that they show as negative.

So, with that in mind, we’ll take you through the various options so that you can get the picture in front of you.

How does a pregnancy test look if positive?

By this point, you’ve peed on the stick.

You’ve put it on a clean surface facing upwards.

And you’re waiting (maybe patiently, maybe not) for your results.

It’s important to stick to the wait times that are outlined in the instructions to make sure you get an accurate result. ⏱️

And now for the moment of truth.

But what does a positive pregnancy test look like?

How the result is displayed differs from test to test — so positive pregnancy test pictures don’t all look the same.

We’ll take you through the options:

Walking the line

Several pregnancy tests (like pregnancy test strips) use lines to show the result.

The first thing you’ll likely see is the results window going darker as your pee passes over it.

Then, one line will appear — this is called a control line (it means that the test is working, so if you don’t see a control line, your test might be faulty or expired).

Now, it’s time for the waiting game. 👀

Set a timer for the amount of time it says on the instruction leaflet.

(It’s usually in the region of 10 to 15 minutes.)

The tricky thing is, while you shouldn’t read it too early, reading it too late can also give you an inaccurate result. (More on this below.)

After the time is up, check to see if another line has appeared next to the control line.

If so, it’s a positive result.

You might also notice that sometimes, the new line that’s appeared looks darker than the control line — a dye stealer — which means your hCG levels are really high!

It’s a sign

Some pregnancy tests show a positive or negative sign.

First, a line will appear in the control window.

After the allocated waiting time, the window where your results are displayed (AKA the test window) will either form a positive or negative sign.
➕= pregnant
➖= negative

Going digital

Then there are digital pregnancy tests — after the wait time, digital pregnancy tests will simply display a word:

PREGNANT or NOT PREGNANT

But if your digital test says ‘INVALID’ or something else, it’s worth taking another and trying again, following the instructions.

Is two lines on a pregnancy test positive?

Yes — if you’re taking a test that uses lines to display the result, two lines generally mean you’ve got your BFP (positive result).

But what next, now you’ve got your positive?

First things first: check in with a healthcare practitioner to confirm your results and figure out your next steps.

Is a thin line on a pregnancy test positive?

Well yes and no — yes, faint lines can sometimes be positives, but sometimes, they’re not. 🫠

And just to make things more complicated, there are faint positive pregnancy test pictures.

A thin or faint line on a pregnancy test could mean that you’re pregnant but that your hCG levels are still building up.

Pregnancy tests have different levels of sensitivity, so if you get a faint line, it’s best to test again and/or consult with your doctor for an hCG blood test.

If you’ve taken your test a bit early in your cycle (before your missed period), it could be worth waiting at least another day or two so your hCG levels can increase enough for a clear positive.

And if you want to track your pregnancy test progression each day to see if your hCG levels get higher, you can — if your hCG levels increase, your line should gradually get darker.

But you certainly don’t have to take more than one test if you have any pregnancy test anxiety — your mental health is important, so you do what feels right for you.

Then there’s the issue of the evaporation line.

This is a faint line that appears where a positive result should be.

An evaporation line is, as the same suggests, the markings of evaporated pee.

It’s colorless, where a positive result would be colorful (usually pink), and can look more like a smudge than a line.

But why do evap lines happen?

Well, they’re usually seen when you check your pregnancy test too long after the wait time.

So if you’ve left a test for longer than the recommended wait time and see a possible line, it’s worth taking another test and checking it as the instructions suggest, just to be sure.

And if you’ve been staring at your test for what feels like hours and you’re still not sure (thanks, line eyes 👀), you can always ask our Peanut Community for some help, or use a pregnancy test reader (although they’re not always totally reliable).

You’re definitely not alone if you’re finding it hard to decipher your pregnancy test result!

What color indicates a positive pregnancy test?

That all depends on the test you take — tests that display lines are usually in pink or blue.

(Remember that if it’s colorless, it might be an evaporation line.)

Some tests that use + or - signs do so in blue.

Tests that display words usually do so in black writing against a gray screen.

The bottom line?

Pregnancy tests all work differently.

It’s important to read the instructions as they will tell you exactly what to look out for when it comes to a positive pregnancy test picture and how to take your test correctly, including what not to do.

And, most importantly, look after yourself. 💗

Whether you’re TTC or not, this can be a rollercoaster time.

If you need support, join us on Peanut.

We’re in this together.