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The usage of pregnancy tests in one health district
Author(s) -
VOSS SIMON
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1992.tb13706.x
Subject(s) - pregnancy , medicine , pregnancy test , obstetrics , family medicine , medical record , test (biology) , surgery , paleontology , genetics , biology
Objective To investigate the total number of pregnancy tests performed and the proportion that are repeated in one health district. To relate these results to the number of conceptions. Design Collection of data related to the numbers of pregnancy tests performed from all sources. Surveys of women booking for antenatal care or undergoing non‐routine obstetric ultrasound examination. Setting One health district in the south of England. Results About five pregnancy tests were performed for each proven pregnancy. Nearly two‐thirds of tests were purchased over the counter, the remainder being carried out by hospital laboratories and pregnancy advisory services. Very few women had their pregnancy diagnosed on clinical grounds alone and a small number of ultrasound examinations were apparently performed in lieu of chemical tests. Repeated testing was more likely in primiparous women ( P <0.005 ). Conclusions Chemical pregnancy tests appear to be trusted more than clinical examination for the diagnosis of pregnancy by women and doctors. When there is no medical urgency, women who want formal confirmation of pregnancy should be advised that home testing kits will provide the quickest results.