Chemistry For Your Life

How do pregnancy tests actually work?

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#210

Melissa and Jam dive into the science of home pregnancy tests. They explore the process in which these tests detect the presence of the hormone HCG, which signals a positive pregnancy result. The episode explains the roles of capillary action, antibodies, and enzymes in the test's operation and discusses the specificity needed to avoid false positives and negatives. The hosts also share personal anecdotes related to pregnancy tests and offer gratitude to their supportive community. This episode offers a fascinating look at how everyday chemistry impacts our lives in important ways.

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00:00 Introduction and Personal Experiences with Pregnancy Tests
00:17 Curiosity and Chemistry in Everyday Life
04:18 Acknowledging the Community and Supporters
05:09 The Science Behind Pregnancy Tests
06:33 How Pregnancy Tests Detect Hormones
13:19 Ensuring Accuracy in Pregnancy Tests
22:56 Introduction to the Blue and Yellow Balls Analogy
24:12 Understanding the Antibody Mechanism
26:45 Biotin and Its Impact on Test Results
29:33 Personal Stories and Fun Facts
32:06 The Benefits of the Pee Style Device
37:29 Conclusion and Listener Engagement

References from this episode:

  1. https://www.acs.org/pressroom/reactions/library/how-do-pregnancy-tests-work.html
  2. https://www.compoundchem.com/2018/11/09/pregnancy-tests/
  3. https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/technical-documents/technical-article/clinical-testing-and-diagnostics-manufacturing/ivd-manufacturing/intro-horseradish-peroxidase-hrp-applications?srsltid=AfmBOorCr6_j7sKr8ZBm3jQa4Rz-PdxyabPLY4OO-KtQJZESFXpdRe19#lateral-flow-assays
  4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK555922/
  5. https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/life-science/protein-biology/protein-biology-learning-center/protein-biology-resource-library/pierce-protein-methods/overview-elisa.html#:~:text=The%20most%20commonly%20used%20enzyme,an%20HRP%20or%20AP%20conjugate.

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