How common is a false negative reading on a home pregnancy test?

I was reading this article about a woman who took 3 HPTs over two weeks after her AF was due, and after repeatedly getting BFNs and still no AF she went to her gyno who took a blood test ... And it turned out she was preggo all along! (she had been using first morning pee to test all 3x, and at least 2 of the 3 tests were digital so she wasn't misreading them!)

So now I'm wondering if this is more common than I believed.... or if this story was really just a fluke. I was under the assumption that HPTs were 99% accurate - I know personally I would be shocked if I kept getting negatives but I was preggo!

Have any of you known anyone who got repeated negatives, but it would up they were preggo anyhow?

Just curious how common this really is!

Re: How common is a false negative reading on a home pregnancy test?

i wonder this, as well. i'm sure it happens, more than we think, just like people getting pregnant and never knowing it.
i also wonder how common it is to be pregnant for a short while. you know, like for 5 days and AF is just a little late, but you don't think to test. is that possbile too?

Re: How common is a false negative reading on a home pregnancy test?

My friend took 4 tests, she for 3 BFP and 1 BFN...all in the same day LOL The blood test told her for sure.

Re: How common is a false negative reading on a home pregnancy test?

I am not sure about false negatives, but I can tell you about false positives! Something that I did not know until I started going in for tests.
We all have some amount of HCG in our bodies, mine is a little elevated so I get false positives A LOT!

Re: How common is a false negative reading on a home pregnancy test?

Happend to me. I used the tests the Dr's used, and got negative after negative. I was freaking out thinking something was wrong with me, I called the dr, got in to see her the next day and lo and behold my bfn is due in a week, so yes it is common

Re: How common is a false negative reading on a home pregnancy test?

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Posted by StayandJohn

Happend to me. I used the tests the Dr's used, and got negative after negative. I was freaking out thinking something was wrong with me, I called the dr, got in to see her the next day and lo and behold my bfn is due in a week, so yes it is common

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Wow, what a story!! Cannot wait to hear the news that your 'BFN' has arrived

Thanks eveyrone for the info, I truly was curious and I guess its not as uncommon as I first thought !