Can Blood Test Detect Pregnancy?

Posted on Sun, 16 Mar 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 16 Mar 2014 Answered on

Sat, 5 Apr 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : Can you please advise me on how early in the cycle can a blood test determine pregnancy? i got my last periods on 23rd Feb. I suspect i may have conceived this time. I need to know it as early as possible, as the curiosity to know it is giving me sleepless nights. can a home pregnancy test determine it accurately at this time?

Answered by Dr. Shanti Vennam (6 hours later)

Brief Answer: A blood test can detect pregnancy now. Detailed Answer: Hi Ms. XXXXXXX Thanks for posting your query. I can understand how anxious you are and completely empathize with you. If you always have regular 28-30 day cycles, you can get the serum beta-hCG levels measured at this stage to see if you have conceived. This is the only accurate test at this stage and is very sensitive as well as specific. The blood test can be done from day 21 of the cycle onward. Home pregnancy tests can detect a pregnancy only 3-7 days after a missed period, with a fresh early morning sample of urine. This is because they are less sensitive. A trans-vaginal sonogram should be able to detect a gestation sac as early as four to five weeks of pregnancy. You can get a sonogram done about a week later, if you miss your next regular period. Hope I have answered your query. Please feel free to contact for further clarifications. I will be happy to help. regards, Shanti.V.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar