Is Your Pregnancy Test Still Positive If a Line Is Lighter?

When taking a pregnancy test, you might notice that one line is darker than the other. Here's what it means.

Many home pregnancy tests display results as lines in an indicator window. One line shows that the test is working properly (the control line), and the other specifies whether you're expecting (the presence of the line means you're pregnant, while the absence means you're not).

The test instructions will explain how to read the results properly, but you still might be confused if the lines look like different colors. What does it mean if your pregnancy test has a darker first line and a lighter second line? Can you trust the results? Here's what to know.

Pregnancy test lines
Photo © Allan Kosmajac/Getty Images

Interpreting a Lighter Pregnancy Test Line

When taking a pregnancy test, any second line is considered a positive result, even if it's lighter than the control line. In fact, the control line is often darker than the test line.

Different line colors don't signal a pregnancy complication or a faulty test, assuming you followed the instructions properly. Rather, it usually means that levels of the pregnancy hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) are high enough to trigger a positive result, but not to darken the test line very much. HCG levels take time to build in your body following conception and implantation.

A lighter first line might also indicate that your urine is diluted. Many experts recommend testing first thing in the morning to avoid diluted urine.

Sometimes the pregnancy test's second line is so faint, you can barely see it. Still, if you detect the line within the test's recommended timeframe (usually between two and 10 minutes, you can consider it a positive result.

What If the Pregnancy Test Line Gets Darker?

Levels of hCG build in your body during the first several weeks of pregnancy. They generally double every 24 hours during the first 8 weeks, peak around 10 weeks, and then decrease. Considering that pregnancy tests detect hCG in your urine, it's normal for the test line to get darker as your first trimester progresses.

Could My Pregnancy Test Be Wrong?

Many pregnancy tests claim to be 99% accurate if you follow instructions. Still, on occasion, lighter or darker pregnancy test lines could signal a false result. Here are a few reasons why your pregnancy test could be wrong.

  • If you read the pregnancy test results after the recommended timeframe (usually between two and 10 minutes), the result might not be accurate. Sometimes an evaporation line will appear after the urine sample dries and evaporates, and it can look similar to a positive result.
  • Expired pregnancy tests might give inaccurate results; make sure to check the expiration date before testing.
  • If your hCG levels are low, the test line might be so light that it's hard to detect. The same could happen if your urine is diluted,

Am I Pregnant?


For the most accurate pregnancy test, take it after missing your period. Remember that any second line is considered a positive result, even if it's very faint. If you're uncertain, retest again in a few days, when hCG levels might've built up more in your urine. You can also get a blood pregnancy test from your health care provider to confirm the pregnancy.

Early signs of pregnancy include the following:

  • Sore breasts
  • Implantation bleeding
  • Slight cramping
  • Frequent urination
  • Mood swings
  • Headaches
  • Nausea
  • Food cravings or aversions
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Sources
Parents uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin. StatPearls. Updated 2023.

  2. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin. StatPearls. Updated 2023.

  3. Strips of Hope: Accuracy of Home Pregnancy Tests and New Developments. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd. 2014.

  4. Self-testing for pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open. 2022.

  5. What Are Some Common Signs of Pregnancy? Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. 2017

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