I jumped up and down happily when I saw the two lines on the pregnancy test strip. It seemed that the lines were the "equals" sign in math, telling me that two pink lines equals bun in the oven. A moment later I began to doubt the accuracy of the pregnancy test I just did. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has ever doubted the piece of filter paper framed in plastic that was supposed to bear news that would change my life forever.

Back then, seeing that the company who made the kits was still in business was not enough proof that the kit was not mistaken. Hey, false positives have been known to happen. The three things I did to confirm I was pregnant were:

1. I tried more than one test kit. I tried two more home pregnancy test kits. They were of different brands and different manufacturers from what I can tell. It was like getting a second opinion. The packets suggested that the tests should be done upon waking up. So, I patiently waited for the right time to do the tests. Guess what, I saw two lines each time.
2. I asked my friends. Yes, I asked my girl friends about their own experiences in using pregnancy test kits. You could say I conducted a survey and my sample was people who would likely have used the same test kits I did. About 90% of the friends I asked were nurses, so I thought their answers have more weight because they could also tell me about how it is for patients they dealt with. They all told me that the likelihood of my tests being wrong was zero. Despite that response, I did one more thing.
3. I went to a medical laboratory to have a test done. I decided to take my case to the experts and went to a local medical laboratory in the city. I was asked to pee in a cup and wait for about an hour or two for the results. Lo and behold, the result came back positive.

Based on my experience, I therefore conclude that pregnancy kit accuracy is very reliable. It is not enough to rely on pregnancy signs, like morning sickness, which are not experienced by everyone. The increase in one of the pregnancy hormones, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), will definitely make those two lines appear and let you know that your baby is on the way.

If you are doubting your own pregnancy tests, by all means, consult a doctor. In my case, the pregnancy test accuracy of the tests I did hit the Bull's Eye. My handsome little man is proof of that.