I got a faint control line on the pregnancy test. What does it mean? I Confused. Are you also one of those who has stuck in the mentioned situation? Don’t worry. A faint control line on a pregnancy test can indicate a potential pregnancy, but it can also be a sign of a faulty test or an early pregnancy. So, understanding the control and test lines is essential to avoid confusion about whether I am pregnant or not.
Further in the article, you will get more explanation about getting a faint control line on the pregnancy test, how pregnancy test work, what is the control line and test line, and the possible reasons to get a faint control line or test line. Stay tuned to know the reason for getting a faint control line on the pregnancy test.
What Are Control Line (C) and Test Line (T) On the Control Line?
A pregnancy test is a small device that can detect pregnancy within seconds through the urine sample. I am sure you have also noticed the control line (C) and Test line (T) on the pregnancy test. Less knowledge about the C and T line on the pregnancy test can muddle up the pregnancy results. The pregnancy test confirms pregnancy by searching the presence of the hCG (hormone human chorionic gonadotropin). in the urine. Pregnancy tests come in the form of a stick that is either dipped into a urine sample or has urine applied to it using a dropper.
The control line assures that the pregnancy test is in good condition to confirm your pregnancy. The test line indicates whether the pregnancy test is positive or negative. The faint control line on the pregnancy test or faint test line on the pregnancy test can confuse anyone about the pregnancy results.
What Does A Faint Control Line On the Pregnancy Test Mean?
I already mentioned that the control line assures you that the test you are using is good enough to confirm your pregnancy. If you see a faint control line on the pregnancy test, it means the pregnancy test has not worked efficiently to detect pregnancy. Well, hold your horses for a while. There may be many reasons for getting control line faint on the pregnancy test. A faint control line on the pregnancy test can indicate pregnancy, but a faulty test or an early pregnancy may be reasons to get that line too.
Here is the explanation about getting the faint control line on the pregnancy test:
Expired Pregnancy Test
The pregnancy tests also have a shelf and may become inaccurate after expiration. A faulty or damaged pregnancy test also may give you inaccurate results. If you are using an expired pregnancy test or faulty pregnancy test, then you may get a faint control line as these tests are unable to determine the amount of the hCG in your urine correctly.
Early Pregnancy
If you are taking the pregnancy test in the early stage, you may also find a faint control line on the pregnancy test as the level of hCG is too low at this time. The pregnancy test may not be able to determine the amount of the hCG, and you may get a faint control line on the pregnancy test. Some women have a naturally low level of hCG in the urine that may not detect by the pregnancy test, so there are chances to get the faint control line. In that case, you should retake the pregnancy test after one week or consult with your healthcare provider to confirm your pregnancy.
Improper Storage
After purchasing the pregnancy test, you should store the pregnancy test correctly to ensure accurate results, as the factors such as exposure to moisture or extreme temperatures can affect the accuracy of the test. The improper storage of the pregnancy test results can lead you to get a faint control line on the pregnancy test.
Not Taking Test Correctly
The whole process of taking a pregnancy test is mentioned on the pregnancy test. It is a must to follow the instructions to get accurate pregnancy results. If you do not follow the instructions correctly, you may get a faint control line on the pregnancy test.
A faint control line can also signify an inaccurate or inconclusive result. Then you should consult with your healthcare provider for a confirmed diagnosis and your options moving forward.
How Dark Should the Control Line Be On a Pregnancy Test?
The dark control line on the pregnancy test indicates that the pregnancy test has worked and the urine has been absorbed by the test correctly. If you get a faint control line on the pregnancy test that means the test you are using is not good enough to tell accurate pregnancy result. A dark line on the pregnancy test does not indicate your pregnancy. It only indicates the pregnancy test’s accuracy.
The test line on the pregnancy test conforms to pregnancy as it forms, which means you are pregnant, and if it doesn’t, you are not. The color intensity of the test line may vary from woman to woman depending on the level of the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the urine. The dark control line or light control line does not signify pregnancy. The light or faint control line on the pregnancy test means the pregnancy result is unreliable, so you need to retake the pregnancy test or consult with your healthcare provider immediately for the analysis of pregnancy results.
Why is My Pregnancy Test Line Darker Than the Control Line?
If you find the test line darker than the control line, it may indicate a higher level of the pregnancy hormone in your urine. It is completely fine. You are pregnant. If you get a dark control line and a faint test line, you are also pregnant. The faint test line on the pregnancy test shows a low level of the hCG in your urine. You should consult with your healthcare provider for more confirmation.
The color intensity of the pregnancy test depends on the following factors:
- Brand of the pregnancy test.
- Sensitivity of the pregnancy test that you are using to confirm pregnancy.
- The time when you take the pregnancy test, as in the first urine of the morning, has a higher level of hCG. The healthcare provider also suggests taking the pregnancy test in the morning to get the most accurate results.
The color of the test line may change as the level of hCG in the urine changes. If you get a test line darker than the control line, you also need follow-ups with your healthcare provider for confirmation.
Conclusion
Getting a faint control line on the pregnancy test can have various reasons ranging from a low level of the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) to an expired or diluted test, testing too early, improper test storage, or use of a low-quality test. If you get a faint control line on the pregnancy test, then retake the pregnancy test by following all the instructions mentioned on the package to get an accurate pregnancy result, or you should immediately consult your healthcare provider.
FAQ’s
Here are the answers to the most asked question regarding the faint control line on the pregnancy test that will help you to understand the concept more:
Q. Why is the second line faint on the pregnancy test?
A. A faint second line on a pregnancy test may indicate a low level of the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the urine.
Q. Why is the test line not getting darker on a pregnancy test?
A. Early testing and insufficient hormones are the reasons for not getting the test line darker on a pregnancy test.
Q. Does a pregnancy test get lighter, mean miscarriage?
A. If you get a dark line on one day and light line on the next day, that does not indicate miscarriage but indicates how much water you have before taking the pregnancy test. In that case, also you should consult with your healthcare provider.
Q. What does a highly faint line on a pregnancy test mean?
A. An extremely faint line on a pregnancy test indicates a very early pregnancy or a low level of hCG in the urine. You should retake the pregnancy test or consult with your healthcare provider.
Q. When should I test after a faint positive?
A. You should retake the pregnancy test after a faint positive after one week so that your body can produce enough hCG detected by the pregnancy test to give you an accurate result.
Q. What do one dark and one faint line mean on a pregnancy test?
A. You are pregnant if you get one dark line and one faded line. For more surety, retake the pregnancy test after one week or consult your healthcare provider.
Q. Does a line on C mean negative?
A. The control line only indicates that the pregnancy test is working correctly. The second line (test line) tells you whether you are pregnant or not. The absence of the T line means you are not pregnant, and the presence of the T line means you are not pregnant.