The central question addresses whether a urinary tract infection (UTI) can interfere with the accuracy of a test designed to detect pregnancy. Pregnancy tests primarily function by detecting the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in urine or blood. hCG is a hormone produced by the placenta shortly after a fertilized egg implants in the uterus. A UTI, on the other hand, is an infection of the urinary system, typically caused by bacteria. This infection triggers an inflammatory response within the urinary tract.
The reliability of pregnancy test results is paramount for individuals trying to conceive or those seeking to confirm a suspected pregnancy. Historically, advancements in pregnancy testing technology have focused on improving sensitivity and specificity to ensure accurate results, minimizing false positives and false negatives. Factors affecting the accuracy of these tests are continuously scrutinized to provide users with dependable information.