SureStep™ hCG
Frequently Asked Questions
How sensitive is
SureStep™
hCG?
SureStep™
hCG is sensitive to 25 mIU/ml hCG .
How accurate is the
test?
Surestep™ hCG has
been shown to be > 99% accurate in clinical trials.
Can samples be
stored in the refrigerator / freezer?
Yes, they can
be stored for up to 48 hours between 2°C and 8°C or for longer term
storage samples can be stored frozen at -20°C. However, samples
must always be brought to room temperature prior to use.
How should
SureStep™ hCG be
stored?
SureStep™ hCG
should be stored between 2°C and 30°C. The tests can be stored in
the refrigerator, but should be allowed to reach room temperature
before use.
How soon can
SureStep™ hCG be
used?
SureStep™ hCG can detect hCG in
urine at concentrations = 25 mIU/ml. On the first day of the
missed period the level of hCG in the urine of a pregnant woman is
expected to exceed 100 mIU/ml. In a normal pregnancy hCG can be
detected in both urine and serum as early as 7 -10 days after
conception. When testing before the period is due positive
results can be relied upon however, some of these patients will go
on to experience a loss of their early pregnancy and in these cases
further testing will result in negative results. Negative results
obtained when testing before the day of the expected period may be
because the patient is not pregnant or the level of hormone may not
yet be high enough to be detected.
When is the best time of
day to test?
It is possible to use
SureStep™ hCG with a urine sample collected at any
time of day, however an early morning urine sample will usually
contain the highest level of hCG.
How critical is the timing and are
the results stable?
SureStep™ hCG
should be read 3 minutes after beginning the test, the device
should not be read after 10 minutes.
The Test
Line was fainter than the Control Line, what does this
mean?
The presence of any pink line in the Region T
on the test device indicates a positive result, regardless of its
intensity compared to the Control Line. If the Test Line is faint,
a repeat test is recommended with a fresh, early morning urine
sample 48 to 72 hours later.
The
Control Line has not appeared in the window, what does this
mean?
The test has not run. This may occur if the
pouch has been opened for too long prior to the test being carried
out. It could also be a consequence of adding insufficient or
excessive sample to the test.
Will
fertility drugs containing hCG affect the test
result?
Fertility drugs containing hCG can give
misleading results. We recommend that a pregnancy test is not
carried out until at least 14 days since the administration of
these drugs.
Does
the contraceptive pill or implant affect the
test?
No, but if a woman has recently discontinued
the use of the contraceptive pill or implant her period may not be
regular. In such cases we recommend testing 19 days after the last
unprotected sexual intercourse.