Pregnancy Test Accuracy: When to Take a Test for Best Results

A pregnancy test taken 19 days after sex may not be completely accurate. While some pregnancy tests claim to be able to detect pregnancy as early as 10-14 days after conception (which can occur 1-2 days after unprotected sex), the results may not be as reliable as a test taken later. For the most accurate results, it's generally recommended to wait until at least a week after your missed period (which usually occurs about 14-15 days after conception) before taking a pregnancy test. This allows time for the levels of the pregnancy hormone (human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG) to build up in your body, making the test more likely to detect a pregnancy if you are indeed pregnant.