Pregnancy Test Accuracy: When Can You Get a Reliable Result?

Pregnancy tests measure the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in urine or blood. hCG is a hormone that is produced by the placenta during pregnancy. It can be detected in urine as early as 6-10 days after conception, which is about 4-6 days before the expected menstrual period. However, for the most accurate results, it is recommended to wait at least one week after the missed period to take a pregnancy test.