

Some blood tests can detect whether a person is pregnant as soon as 1 week after conception. The body produces this hormone when someone becomes pregnant. A quantitative test returns the total amount of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the blood. A qualitative test gives a simple yes or no answer to whether a person is pregnant. There are two types of blood tests for pregnancy: qualitative and quantitative. However, people have to wait longer for blood test results. Some people choose to have a blood test, which tends to be more accurate than a urine test. Urine tests are the most common methods for detecting pregnancy and give results within minutes. Share on Pinterest A urine test can detect pregnancy more quickly than a blood test. The following are some potential reasons a doctor may order a blood test and how long a person can expect to wait before getting the results back.

A doctor may reorder the test if the sample is inadequate for any reason. For instance, a person may not receive their results if the doctor did not collect enough blood or if the blood sample became contaminated.

Sometimes, unforeseen factors can delay a person’s results. The lab should tell the person how long it could take to receive results back. In other cases, a lab may release results directly to a person, often through an online portal. It is essential to follow up with the doctor to discuss test results. A doctor can then go over the results over the phone or, in some cases, during a face-to-face appointment. The laboratory that tests the blood sample usually sends the results back to the doctor’s office. The timings of the results will depend on the type of test.Īccording to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the actual blood draw usually takes less than 3 minutes, and the results can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few weeks to come back. Share on Pinterest The time it takes for results to arrive depends on the purpose of the blood test.ĭoctors use blood tests to check blood counts, cholesterol levels, and help diagnose nutrient deficiencies or medical conditions.
