Blood Drug Testing

Difference between a Urine Pregnancy Test and a Blood Pregnancy Test?

I just went to the ob/gyn today to get a pregnancy test because my period has been skipped twice, but all my home tests have been negative. The nurse told me that a urine test and a blood test are no different in sensitivity when detecting hCG. I took a blood test anyways because I have heard that those are more accurate. What are the facts?

Public Comments

1. Blood tests can pick up HCG levels within a week of being pregnant. Urine tests sometimes can't pick up HCG levels until you're at least 2 weeks pregnant (which is around the time when you notice you missed period). If a blood test gives you high HCG levels determining you're pregnant but a urine test still says negative, you're still pregnant. Blood is always stronger than urine. and there is a difference in sensitivity. i dont know why she would say that there isn't. Even Medical Assistants know that Blood Testing for pregnancy is always more responsive than a urine test. =)
2. You always have hCG in your blood, but when you are pregnant the numbers increase rapidly and go sky high, a blood test can tell this by reading the exact amount in your blood when the blood was drawn. A urine test requires a minimum amount of hCG to read positive. Some women, like myself, don't produce enough of the hormone in the urine until later in pregnancy and a blood test is the only way to tell for sure. My first baby was like that, neg tests for three months only to find out by blood test at 3.5 months! And I told the doc..."I told ya so!"
3. I can not believe a nurse would tell you there is no difference! The blood test is error proof, the urine test are not always. There can be a negative urine sample when you are really pregnant, not the case with a blood test.