What Is the Cost of a Pregnancy Test?

If you’re trying to get pregnant, you’ll quickly find that even though pregnancy test kits are widely available, the need to continually purchase them can quickly add up in price. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be that costly. You can find pregnancy tests very cheap through public programs like the Affordable Care Act and community health clinics, as well as through online retailers.

“Home pregnancy tests can help each of us be healthier, more informed, and better able to make healthier choices,” said Janice Lyon, FABOG FACOG, MD, who retired from breast cancer prevention awareness campaigns. “Many tests detect pregnancy as early as 7-10 days after conception and 21-24 days from the first day of the last menstrual period.”

How much do home pregnancy tests cost?

Home pregnancy tests test urine for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a pregnancy hormone produced by the body about a week after the egg is fertilized. Home pregnancy tests can detect this hormone as early as the day after your period is late. Home pregnancy tests range in price from $0.88 to over $20. According to Good RX Health, the average price for a home pregnancy test that includes two test strips is about $15.

“You can also purchase test strips instead, which are thin strips that you dip into urine. You can buy pregnancy tests at dollar stores, and you can find multiple test kits online for as low as 50 cents each,” says Alison K. Rogers, MD, clinical advisor at Juno Diagnostics.

How much does a pregnancy blood test cost?

A pregnancy blood test typically costs $50 and is covered by most health insurance plans. The Affordable Care Act requires that pregnancy testing (including pregnancy blood testing) be considered an essential health benefit and be covered by health insurance plans. Depending on your plan, you may have to pay out-of-pocket costs, such as a deductible or copayment.

“This may vary depending on location. Urine pregnancy tests are pretty reliable if your pregnancy hormone (HCG) levels are high enough around the time your period is late. Out-of-pocket costs without insurance are usually around $50 for a blood test. If you have insurance, your insurance will cover it,” says Dr. Rogers.

There are two types of pregnancy blood tests offered by health care providers. The first type is called a quantitative blood test, which measures the exact amount of hCG present in your blood. The other type of blood test is called a qualitative pregnancy blood test, which only detects the presence of hCG, but not the amount of hCG. (Like home pregnancy tests, qualitative blood tests give you either a positive or negative result.) Blood tests are 99% accurate, but they’re not commonly used because they require blood to be drawn in a lab or clinic, take a long time to get results, and are expensive.

“Blood pregnancy tests are harder to obtain than urine tests. Urine pregnancy tests are much more available, and blood pregnancy tests are only slightly superior to urine tests. Because urine pregnancy tests are so superior, blood pregnancy tests are not usually recommended. In general, blood pregnancy tests are a waste of money,” says Dr. Lyon. “Urine pregnancy tests are just as reliable. There is rarely any need to use a blood pregnancy test.”

According to Medline Plus, one reason to choose a quantitative blood pregnancy test is that it can detect the exact amount of hCG, which provides valuable information. That information can tell your doctor a few things:

• Fetal age
• In case of ectopic pregnancy
• Helps identify specific problems such as Down Syndrome and other chromosomal disorders

Can I get a free pregnancy test?

Dr. Lyon explains that anyone can get tested for free in a variety of ways: “People who can’t afford a pregnancy test can go to their local free clinic or Medicaid clinic to get a free pregnancy test, or they can go to their local library and use the public computers to search for ‘free pregnancy tests near me’ (or anywhere they have access to a computer and the internet).”

Other places where you can get a free pregnancy test quickly include:

• Regional Pregnancy Support Center
• Community Health Clinic
• Family planning

“Most of these facilities will charge you if you need it, but some don’t charge patients who need it,” Dr. Lion said.

How can you save money when buying a pregnancy test kit?

Ways to save money on pregnancy tests include buying in bulk, choosing less expensive non-branded pregnancy tests, and getting tested at facilities that offer free or very low-cost pregnancy tests, such as public health centers and clinics like Planned Parenthood.

“Many manufacturers package between two and 30 test kits in bulk, and Amazon sells them in bulk. For most patients, pregnancy test kits will only be used a few times in their lifetime. While individuals rarely need large quantities, it is convenient to have them available in bulk at medical facilities,” says Dr. Lyon. “Pregnancy testing is the most important and cost-effective pre-operative and pre-prescription test in medicine.”

Are cheap pregnancy tests trustworthy?

Home pregnancy tests, including inexpensive ones, are up to 99% accurate. Since their introduction to the general market in 1976, they have become the modern wonder of self-testing. However, studies have shown that human error can reduce that 99% accuracy. For example, some inexpensive tests don’t come with a convenient plastic wand to hold the test strip, making it easier to hold the test strip while using it. If a pregnancy test is used incorrectly, it can produce a false positive or false negative result. However, the test itself is 99% accurate when used properly according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Can I check if I’m pregnant without using a pregnancy test?

While you may be wondering whether signs and symptoms can tell you if you’re pregnant, the reality is that you can’t accurately tell if you’re pregnant without a pregnancy test. “Many of the symptoms, like breast pain, nausea, and fever, can be related to other factors. The only way to know for sure is to take a pregnancy test,” says Dr. Rogers.

If you’ve been sexually active and missed your period, the best way to tell if you’re pregnant is to take a pregnancy test.

That being said, it is possible to confirm a pregnancy with an ultrasound, but it isn’t usually done unless a pregnancy test is positive.

To learn more about free or low-cost pregnancy testing, birth control, and other medical issues, visit Planned Parenthood’s website to find resources near you.

What else should you know?