Nothing can quite put your mind at ease like a pregnancy test when you're late for your period, but which are the best pregnancy tests to buy in the UK?
Finding out whether or not you're pregnant is a big, life changing moment, so it's understandable that you want the most reliable and accurate pregnancy tests that are available on the market. We've researched the best pregnancy tests on the market so you can be confident when you're waiting for those life-changing results.
Best pregnancy tests at a glance:
• Best pregnancy tests overall: Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test with 2 Tests - £13.98
• Best pregnancy test for multiple testing: First Response, Triple Check Pregnancy - £16.50
• Best pregnancy test for early detection: Clearblue Pregnancy Test Ultra Early Triple-Check and Date Combo Pack - £13.98
Some pregnancy tests are designed to detect pregnancy before your period is meant to start, however others are to be taken when you have missed your period. It's important to check which type of pregnancy tests you are buying so you know when the right time to take the test will be. Scroll down to see more on how soon you can do a pregnancy test and how accurate pregnancy tests are, as well as everything you need to know about taking a pregnancy test.
How to choose a pregnancy test
Choosing a pregnancy test from the hundreds out there can be a daunting task, especially when you want to have confidence in the results. To help you decide, there are a few factors to consider when you’re choosing the best pregnancy test for you:
Price: There’s a wide variety of tests out there, ranging from a few pounds to over £10. The more expensive come with clearer digital displays and may show you how far along your pregnancy is. Some people like to have this extra information, while others simply want to see a positive or negative result and have further information confirmed at their first ultrasound.
Sensitivity: Pregnancy tests work by testing for the hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), which starts to be produced around 6 days after fertilisation. If you have a 28 day cycle, you should be able to detect hCG in your urine 12-15 days after ovulation. Most pregnancy tests can detect hCG levels from 25 mIU/ml though some of the more sensitive early tests can detect hCG levels as low as 10 mIU/ml.
Date tests: Some tests will show you how many weeks pregnant you are, up to 3+ weeks. This can be helpful in allowing you to know when you might have conceived and a rough idea of due date. This is something you’ll discover at your first ultrasound but as this is normally around 12 weeks some people prefer to find out sooner.
Display: Some pregnancy tests will show whether you’re pregnant with two lines or a plus sign. This could be in blue or pink dye. Other tests with digital displays will show the word – Pregnant or Not Pregnant which many people prefer as a clear yes or no.
The best pregnancy tests in the UK 2024:
Best pregnancy tests overall
Description
Clearblue is one of the most well-known pregnancy test brands, and is the one most recommended by doctors in the UK. This particular Clearblue test is packed with features, including a digital display to tell you how many weeks pregnant you are, which it claims is as accurate as an ultrasound scan at dating your pregnancy. Reviewers agreed, with one saying it “works well and is very accurate. The accuracy of the week's was confirmed for me by the hospital when I had to have an early scan”. Another felt that the digital display made it easier to read, saying that it’s “easy to use and much more precise than the line pregnancy tests”. Some reviewers pointed out that anything over three weeks will just show as 3+ weeks.
Reviewers liked that it comes with two tests so you can confirm the result, and one pointed out that it’s “value for money , 2 in price of one”.
Pros
- The display shows the number of weeks so it's clearer and gives an idea of dates
- Can use them to test early
- Two tests in one box offers a chance to reconfirm results
- Users felt the dating was accurate
Cons
- Anything over three weeks will just show as 3+ weeks
Best pregnancy test for multiple testings
Description
Along with Clearblue, First Response is a brand you’re likely to spot on the shelves. This is another that comes with a well-earned reputation for accuracy and we particularly like the Triple Check Pregnancy Test. The package comes with three different tests – the first is a First Response, which detects the pregnancy hormone from the day of your expected period. It claims to be 99% accurate and one reviewer felt it was “honestly the best tests on the market for early, accurate results. Picked up my pregnancy at 3 weeks and 4 days!”
The second and third tests are a Digital pregnancy test with a Yes or No answer, and a Rapid Results test which will give you an answer in one minute on the day of your missed period. While reviewers rated the early detection tests, feedback was mixed on the Digital test with a number feeling this was inaccurate compared to other tests.
Pros
- Over 99 percent accurate to offer confidence with early testing
- Three tests in one box offering a chance to test at different stages
- Easy to use
Cons
- Some users say that the digital one may be inaccurate
Best pregnancy test for early detection
Description
While the most important part of a pregnancy test is the positive or negative result, it’s very exciting to know how far along your pregnancy might be so you can start thinking about that all important due date! With the ability to test how many weeks you are, up to three plus, the Clearblue Pregnancy Test Ultra Early Triple-Check and Date Combo Pack not only gives you an idea of how many weeks pregnant you are, but it can also give you results up to six days before your missed period. One reviewer felt it “offers great value, exceptional sensitivity, and unsurpassed user-friendliness, making it an invaluable tool for those early days of pregnancy”.
For additional reassurance, the pack includes three tests, with two Ultra Early Pregnancy Tests and one Pregnancy test with Weeks Indicator. Reviewers liked that this offered better value for money and that the “blend of both the traditional and digital aspects of pregnancy tests… provides the assurance one needs during such a critical period”.
Pros
- Can test 6 days before the expected start date of your period
- Contains three tests for early detection and dating your pregnancy
- Two traditional tests and a digital test offer the best of both worlds
Cons
- Some reviewers thought tests with pink lines were easier to distinguish from potential evaporation lines
Best sensitive multipack pregnancy tests
Description
If you’re looking for a good value multipack of tests that you can rely on, we’d suggest the One Step 5 x 10mIU Ultra Early Pregnancy hCG Midstream Tests. They’re 99 per cent accurate and can detect hCG in urine at a concentration of 10 mIU/mL or greater, six days before your period is due. The results are quick and can be read after five minutes so you won’t have to wait too long for that all-important answer. Reviewers also seem to prefer and have more confidence in the red line of these tests rather than the blue lines of other tests.
As they come in a pack of five, reviewers felt they were good to have on hand if they had irregular periods with one reviewer saying “if you’re like me and are wanting to just check with your cycle being up and down I’d say definitely buy”, while another liked that they were cheap enough to buy in bulk if you’re trying to conceive, “helpful to bulk buy when we was trying - got the first positive 3 days before missed period and continued to get darker”.
Pros
- Easy to read and use
- Fast working - results can be read in five minutes
- Cheap enough to bulk buy if you're trying to conceive or have irregular periods
- Can be used six days before your period is due
Cons
- Leaving the test for too long may result in an evaporation line which can be confusing
Best multipack pregnancy tests
Description
While these tests mean you may be getting up close and personal with your urine, we’d say it’s a small price to pay for a multipack of 20 strips. Simply immerse the strip into a sample of urine, take the strip out after three seconds and lay it flat, checking the results after three minutes. One reviewer said “These are the cheapest and most reliable pregnancy tests you can get. You dip them in a pot rather than hold them in the urine stream. They are quite fast working”.
These tests are very sensitive, and can detect pregnancy before your period is due, though the lines may be faint in the early pregnancy stages. Reviewers appreciated the confidence it provided to be able to take multiple tests to confirm results, with one using them over many days and saying “I started getting faint positives and can see the line progression well. I have tested loads with these over the last few days and can see darker lines today”.
Pros
- Large multipack for multiple testing
- Only needs dipping in urine for 5 seconds and can be read in 3-5 minutes
- Multiple tests can give confidence in the results
Cons
- Lines may be light and tricky to see in the early days
Best ovulation and pregnancy test
ClearblueDescription
If you’re trying to get pregnant, you might want to consider investing in this ovulation and pregnancy test. With 10 fertility tests, it’s easy to pinpoint the best time to get pregnant. The tests track a fertility hormone, luteinising hormone (LH), which increases 24-36 hours before ovulation, giving you a window of ovulation. This is a more accurate way of testing than using the basal body temperature (BBT). Reviewers appreciated how easy it was to use with one saying it was “much easier to understand than a typical low price ovulation test. No ambiguity on determining if a line is positive or negative, the smiley face does the job for you”.
While they are more expensive than some own-brand tests, reviewers had great confidence in Clearblue, with one saying “these may be expensive but both times I have used them have accurately picked up my ovulation and helped me to conceive”.
One Clearblue Rapid Detection Pregnancy Test is included and can give a result in just one minute when used from the date of your expected period. However, we know from our mum testers and reviewers that they feel more confident doing multiple tests so you might want to buy another test from our round up of the best pregnancy tests.
Pros
- Can be used to predict your ovulation date, improving your chances of getting pregnant
- Ten ovulation tests are included to allow you to do multiple tests around your suspected ovulation date
- The easy to read 'smiley face' lets you know if it's the right time
- Tests the luteinising hormone which is a more accurate way to predict ovulation
Cons
- Only includes one pregnancy test
Best pregnancy test for accuracy
AccufastDescription
This Accufast pregnancy Test claims to be 99.99% accurate, so should provide peace of mind to prospective parents. It offers the option of using it as either an in-flow test - where you hold it in your urine stream for about 5 seconds - or using the cup which is provided to collect urine and dip the test in. You then lay it flat and your results should come through in 3-5 minutes. Reviewers thought it was accurate, with one saying "this was a middle of the afternoon wee as I couldn't wait, but it came up straight away and told me exactly how many weeks".
While it's a fairly simple display, it does give you an indication of how many weeks pregnant you may be, with different lines showing how far along the pregnancy is. Reviews were mixed on the displays with some finding it a little complicated and unclear, while some preferred it to the digital displays of other tests.
Pros
- Offers the option of using it as an inflow test or dipping it in a cup
- Results come through in 3-5 minutes
- Different lines show how far along the pregnancy is
Cons
- Some reviewers found the displays a little complicated and preferred digital options
How do pregnancy tests work?
It's actually pretty simple!
Pregnancy tests essentially work by checking your urine for a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which is a hormone that your body only makes if you're pregnant. This hormone is released when a fertilised egg attaches to the lining of your uterus and when pregnancy begins.
Home pregnancy tests look for how much hCG is present in your urine. At-home pregnancy tests usually involve placing drops of urine onto a chemical strip, placing this strip into your urine or holding the test in the flow when you go to the toilet. The strip then detects hCG and you will need to wait a certain amount of time before the results show in the test window.
How soon can you do a pregnancy test?
If you're dreaming of being pregnant, it's understandable that you might be keen to take a test as soon as possible, but it is worth waiting a little while. Even if you've experienced pregnancy symptoms such as an increase in wet watery discharge or pregnancy fatigue, or period pain but no period, it's important to be patient. Experts suggest waiting to take a pregnancy test until the week after your missed period for an accurate result as this is when the test will be most reliable. If you are pregnant your body needs time to develop the HCG hormone, so it can be detected.
If you do not want to wait until your period, then you should wait at least 21 days after you’ve had sex. Some pregnancy tests can be used from as early as 8 days after conception. However, for accurate results, it’s best to take a test when your period is due and of course if your period hasn’t arrived.
How accurate are home pregnancy tests?
Generally, pregnancy tests are pretty much on the mark. Pregnancy tests are usually 99% effective which is the same accuracy rate as most urine pregnancy tests performed in a doctor's office.
According to the NHS, a positive pregnancy test is "almost certainly correct. However, a negative test result is less reliable." This could be because you don't follow instructions or that you do it too early e.g. just days after ovulation and you could get a false negative which means you will need to test again later.
Should you retest?
As above, pregnancy tests are very accurate and it is highly likely that the test is correct first time around providing you are following the instructions correctly. Understandably you might want the reassurance that the result is definitely correct and choose to do another time (or several times!). Several positive or negative pregnancy tests may well help the news sink in. We would also recommend checking the instructions of your test again to ensure you are doing everything right.
The number of tests you take is a personal preference, and some women like to take a few to be sure. If you have taken multiple tests and they all give positive results, then it is highly unlikely to be wrong. We would suggest going to your GP for a further test if you are worried as this will put your mind at ease.
Can I get a pregnancy test on the NHS?
It is possible to get a pregnancy test on the NHS, but normally not at your GPs - you could make an appointment at your local Sexual Health Clinic. It's probably a lot quicker and easier to buy a pregnancy test!
What to do next?
If you have a positive pregnancy test result
Arrange an appointment with your doctor telling them that you took a test and it came back positive. From there, your doctor will be able to guide and advise you of your next steps. You'll be advised to make an appointment with the midwife, where your pregnancy will be confirmed.
If you have a negative pregnancy test result
If you were trying for a baby but had a negative pregnancy test result, try not to get too disheartened. It often takes several months or more to finally get there. If you are concerned about your fertility, please see your doctor.
If you're not trying for a baby, but are worried that your birth control is failing you, see your doctor so that you can find the best options available for you.
Samantha Ball is a Product & Lifestyle Writer for Mother&Baby and freelanced for the website for two years before joining the team full time. She's a mum of two and loves browsing for the best products and cute outfits.