Types of Pregnancy Tests Available in Ireland

All at home pregnancy tests are urine based but with the wide range of types of pregnancy tests out there it is not surprising that when many women end up at the pharmacy, they often do not know which is the ‘right’ kind of test. The answer depends on several factors, such as how quickly after conception you wish to take the test, which format you are most comfortable with and how much you want to pay. In Ireland, people either purchase pregnancy tests in the pharmacy where branded pregnancy tests can be found, supermarkets such as Tesco where branded and even supermarket branded pregnancy tests can be found and online where all types of pregnancy tests can be found. Online shops in Ireland have become an extremely popular way to find pregnancy tests among couples trying to conceive (who can go through quite a few tests!).

Not only can you find the top brands for less online, you can also save substantial amounts by purchasing generic brand tests that are normally used by healthcare professionals but can still be used at home. In general, there are three different types of pregnancy tests: midstream (most branded pregnancy tests are in this format), pregnancy test cassettes and pregnancy test strips. The sensitivity can vary between each type of pregnancy test and therefore how early after a missed period the test can be used will vary. There is a description of each type of test below, which may help in choosing which pregnancy test is right for you.