What is a pregnancy test strip?

Pregnancy test strips—commonly known as early pregnancy test strips—are used to determine whether a woman is pregnant. These strips detect the level of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in urine to assess pregnancy status. A positive result (two lines) suggests possible pregnancy, while a single line indicates a negative result (no pregnancy). For optimal accuracy, pregnancy test strips should typically be used about one week after a missed menstrual period.