You can take a pregnancy test as early as 6 days before your missed period (which is about 5 days before your expected period), using sensitive early detection tests like Clearblue or First Response

. However, testing this early means the pregnancy hormone hCG may still be too low to detect, so a negative result might not be reliable yet

. For the most accurate results, it is generally recommended to wait until the first day of your missed period or later to take a pregnancy test

. At this point, hCG levels are usually high enough to be detected by most home pregnancy tests, making the results over 99% accurate

. If you test early and get a negative result but still suspect pregnancy, you should test again a few days later or when your period is due

. Testing with the first morning urine is advised if you test before your expected period because hCG concentration is highest then

. In summary:

• Earliest detection: About 6 days before missed period with sensitive tests (may give false negatives)
• Best accuracy: From the day of missed period onward
• Retesting recommended if early test is negative but pregnancy is still suspected

This timing allows hCG to build up sufficiently for reliable detection by home pregnancy tests