Clear Blue - Clear Results (Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test with Conception Indicator)

Member Name: masonsmum

Product:	Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test with Conception Indicator
Date:	31/07/09 (704 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Straightforward test, does what it says on the box. No worry over false positives.

Disadvantages: Confusing conception indicator.

Having recently used one of these to confirm my fourth pregnancy, I felt it fresh enough in my mind to give a review.

~ About ~

This home pregnancy test is the first in its kind to have the unique conception indicator. The product can be used as early as four days before your period is due, to test the HCG in your urine and detect pregnancy. It reads the strength of the result to determine how far along you are in your pregnancy.

~ How To Use ~

The instructions are very simple. To use, simply unclasp the lid and point the tip of the test into your urine stream, preferably with your first morning urine, as it has the highest level of HCG, the hormone needed to be present to detect pregnancy. Hold it in the stream for five to ten seconds maximum, replace the lid and place on a flat surface. Check the results in three to five minutes. Discard the test after ten minutes. The results will state 'pregnant' or 'not pregnant' and '1-2', '2-3' or '3 +' to indicate how far along in your pregnancy you are.

~ Features ~

This home pregnancy test not only tells you if you are pregnant in plain words, removing the concerns of false positives, it also has a unique conception indicator.

It is important to note here, that 1-2 weeks corresponds to 4 -5 weeks of pregnancy, 2-3 weeks corresponds to 5-6 weeks of pregnancy and 3+ weeks is 6 weeks or more pregnant. This is because clear blue detects the strength from ovulation, where as your doctor and midwife predict from the first day of your last menstrual period. This can be confusing!

Secondly, it is important to not put too much stock in how far along you are. You can certainly trust the pregnancy indicator, but the conception indicator works by checking how much HCG appeared on your test, which is in turn indicated by a line. The conception indicator judges the strength of the line to give you the prediction of how far along you are. A faint line may be 1-2 weeks, a strong line may be 3+ weeks. You cannot see the lines, they do not advise opening the test.

Now because this is how the conception indicator works, you have to take into consideration the fact that the amount of pregnancy hormone a woman produces can vary widely. For example, two ladies could both be 7 weeks pregnant, but one have a higher hormone level than the other. Therefore for one lady the test could say 2-3 weeks (5- 6 weeks by your doctor and midwife) and the other lady my get 3+ weeks (6 weeks and up by your doctor). This could then lead to one lady feel frightened the pregnancy isn't progressing because she did not get the 3+ weeks for her stage in pregnancy. Please do not put too much faith in the conception indicator!

~ Personal Opinion ~

I gave this test a whirl after getting some faint lines on some cheap little Internet tests, never to be fully trusted, but handy to give you an idea before forking out for the pricey tests. I found the packaging clearly stated what you were getting for your money, exactly what the test did, when you could use it and how to use it. I didn't even have to read the leaflet within. I did however read through it later and found it pretty straight forward. The pricing was very steep, but I expected it to be so, due to being quite a new product.

The next morning (always best to use first morning urine when testing!) I opened the box and did the test following the easy instructions on the back of the box. Pregnant came up first within a minute or two. There was a lot longer a wait for the conception indicator which eventually flashed up with 1-2 weeks, as I expected. That was it. As simple as that. There really isn't anything to complain about this test, as long as you are aware that the conception indicator is as much a novelty than an exact science. The test did the job it was meant to do.

I was slightly disappointed that the battery life lasted only for 24 hours, I prefer to keep my tests (with urine strip removed!) as I am quite sentimental. I have lost a baby before and the tests and scan pictures are the only memories I have. It would be nice if there was some way to prolong the results for those whom don't like to throw away their tests.

~ Pricing and Stockists ~

Most supermarkets now stock these tests. I bought mine from Ebay for around £6.00. You can also find them on Amazon online for around £7.00. The pricing is quite steep for a pregnancy test, but for such a simple, stress free straightforward test with the fun conception indicator included, its not, in my opinion, overpriced.

Summary: The ultimate in home pregnancy test, just don't get worked up over that conception indicator!