Pregnancy tests- how they work

• What is the role of monoclonal antibodies in pregnancy tests?

  They detect the hormone hCG in urine
• What hormone do pregnancy tests detect?

  hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin)
• How do pregnancy tests indicate a positive result?

  The test strip turns blue when hCG is present
• What are the main components of a pregnancy test strip?

  • Fixed monoclonal antibodies specific to hCG
  • Free-moving blue beads covered in monoclonal antibodies
• What happens to the test strip if a woman is not pregnant?

  The urine washes the beads away, no blue color
• Why do the blue beads get stuck on the test strip when hCG is present?

  hCG binds to both the beads and fixed antibodies
• What does a positive pregnancy test typically show?

  Two lines on the test strip
• What is the purpose of the second line on a pregnancy test?

  It acts as a control for the test
• What should users do before using a pregnancy test?

  Read the instructions carefully
• What are the steps in the functioning of a pregnancy test?

  1. Urine is applied to the test strip.
  2. If hCG is present, it binds to blue beads.
  3. Beads flow and bind to fixed antibodies.
  4. The strip turns blue, indicating a positive result.
• Test strip