History of Pregnancy Tests
Pregnancy tests have been used for centuries, with many different procedures employed. Some of the oldest methods were based on tradition and superstition, such as examining a woman's behavior or checking the color of her urine. One ancient Egyptian method, for example, included having a woman urinate on wheat or barley seeds. She was assumed to be pregnant if the seeds sprouted within a few days. Drinking a concoction made from the ashes of a burned eel was also another ancient approach. If the woman vomited, it was assumed she was pregnant. Scientists began to create more reliable methods of pregnancy testing in the 19th century. The first pregnancy blood test was created in 1898. This test, however, was not generally available until the mid-twentieth century. The first urine pregnancy test was created in 1927. The Aschheim-Zondek test consisted of putting a woman's urine into an immature mouse. The woman was declared pregnant if the mouse ovulated within 72 hours. More sensitive and accurate urine pregnancy tests were developed in the 1950s and 1960s. The detection of hCG in urine was the basis for these diagnostics. hCG is a hormone released by the placenta when a fertilized egg is implanted in the uterus. The first home pregnancy tests were introduced in the 1970s. These tests were simple to apply and yielded accurate results in minutes. Since then, home pregnancy tests have grown in popularity and are now the most commonly used type.Types of Pregnancy Tests
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Urine Pregnancy Tests
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Blood Pregnancy Tests
