A faint line on a pregnancy test can be confusing. Learn what it might mean, when to retest, and how to manage the wait for clearer results.

A faint line on an at-home pregnancy test can mean you're in the earlier stages of pregnancy. But, it can also mean the test wasn't taken properly, so its important to follow instructions.

Medically reviewed by Peter Weiss, MD Many home pregnancy tests claim to be 99% accurate when testing is done on the day of an expected period. However, these estimates are based on laboratory testing ...

Even after an embryo successfully implants and begins producing hCG, it still takes a few days for the hormone to build to a high enough level to be detected by a pregnancy test. Bottom line ...

Follow test instructions exactly. 2 pink lines is positive; 1 pink line is negative. May be used as early as 6 days before period is expected.