We have included questions that are most asked about our products and services. SCI Medic, Inc. account executives are always available to answer any specific questions you may have regarding our Private Label, Resellers and Healthcare Professional programs. Feel free to contact us for additional information.

Family Planning

Feminine Hygiene

Diagnostic and Test Kits

General Questions

Pregnancy Test Answers

What is hCG?

hCG is human chorionic gonadotropin. It is a hormone produced by the placenta during pregnancy. Home pregnancy tests (HPTs) are designed to detect it.

Why does the hCG level of the test matter?

Basically, the pregnancy tests that detect the lowest number of units should give you the earliest results.

How do home pregnancy tests work?

Home pregnancy tests (HPTs) are designed to detect hCG, a hormone released by the placenta right after the embryo begins implanting into the uterine lining. The hormone is released in a pregnant woman’s urine.

How soon after ovulation can I test?

You may be able to get a positive HPT about 10 days after ovulation. If you have not had an hCG injection (common in infertility treatment, brands include Profasi and Pregnyl), you believe the positive, but you might get a false negative. If your period is late, test again. Your hCG levels should double every 2-3 days and many people won’t have a positive HPT until the first day of a missed period or even a few days later.

How do I perform the test?

You should use midstream urine — meaning you should pee a little first and then either hold the test stick in your urine stream or use a collection cup. If you would like to collect urine in a cup even though you bought a stick test, you need to hold the absorbent tip of the stick in the cup of urine for 10-15 seconds. Otherwise, follow the directions with the test.

How long do I need to hold my urine?

That depends how long after ovulation you are testing. If you are testing early, a four-hour wait is a good idea. The more hCG you have in your system, the less long you’ll need to hold before trying to test.

Can I use an HPT if I got an hCG shot (such as Profasi or Pregnyl)?

You can, but you should wait 7-14 days after your last injection before the shot is out of your system. If you test too soon, you might get a false positive. Wait 14 days after a 10,000 IU injection, 10 days after a 5,000 IU injection, or 7 days after a 2,500 IU injection.

What should my hCG level be?

An average would be about 25 mIU at 10 dpo, 50 at 12 dpo, 100 at 14 dpo. Please consult http://www.advancedfertility.com/earlypre.htm or http://www.inciid.org/betas.html for charts on hCG levels in early pregnancy.

What if I took a test and it was negative, but when I looked at it an hour or more later I saw a faint line?

You may be pregnant and just didn’t have a high enough level of hCG to trigger the test within the usual time frame. However, it also could be the way that test reacts over time, so you really need to test again either way in order to be sure of the result. Some brands indicate that an “evaporation line” will appear if the test is left to sit (Equate, for example). Generally speaking, you should not rely on any positive result that does not show up within the time limit stated in the test instructions.

Which is more accurate, a urine test or a blood test?

A blood test is more accurate, but not necessarily more sensitive. A lot depends on the lab. A quantitative blood test, usually called a beta hCG test, measures the exact units of hCG in the blood. That means it will detect even the most minimal level. There is another type of blood test sometimes called a qualitative hCG. This is a test that simply gives a yes or no answer to whether you are pregnant. Just like urine tests, labs vary as to what is considered a positive pregnancy test. Common cutoffs for positive are 5, 10, and 25 units. A level under 5 is considered negative. A test that is only triggered at 25 units of hCG is not any more sensitive than several of the urine HPTs.

Can I tell if my hCG level is doubling by retesting with an HPT and looking for a darker line?

No. You may get a darker line as your pregnancy progresses, but the HPT is not accurate enough to give you a full picture. Only a quantitative beta hCG blood test can tell you this. Best to have the blood tests performed at the same lab since standards vary.

What if my HCG levels aren’t doubling every two to three days from a quantitative blood test?

It doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong, but it warrants further exploration including an early ultrasound (6 weeks LMP). Slow-rising hCG can be related to impending miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. One important thing to remember is that on average hCG levels double approximately every two days from 4-6 weeks LMP, then doubles every 3 days when the level is 1600-6000, then the doubling slows to every 4 days or so. Levels peak a week or two before end of the first trimester (14 weeks LMP) before declining in the second trimester.

If I am pregnant, how long will my doctor monitor hCG levels.

Many doctors will do two or three hCG levels to confirm doubling and stop there. Most others will stop after a fetal heartbeat is detected since hCG levels vary greatly and doubling begins slowing down. After a heartbeat is seen or heard, the chance of miscarriage drops to 16% before 6 weeks LMP, 5% from 7-9 weeks, 1-2% after 11 weeks (reference).

I had a positive HPT, but my period started. What happened?

The only way to know for sure is to get a quantitative hCG blood test run. If you were pregnant but are miscarrying early, you may still have some level of hCG on the first day of bleeding — but you need to go for the test as soon as possible. It is also possible that you got a false positive on the pregnancy test, in which case you should call the manufacturer with the lot number and try to get your money back.

I have all the symptoms of pregnancy and got a faint positive on a home pregnancy tests. My qualitative (yes/no) hCG blood test came back negative. Am I pregnant or not?

It may be that the qualitative blood test is less sensitive than the home pregnancy test, so it would be a good idea to get a quantitative hCG (measures the actual hCG level).

Can you get a positive HPT with a lower level of hCG than the tests manufacturers say they detect?

Yes. Most of the tests can detect lower levels of hCG than what is listed in this FAQ, but the levels printed here are the ones quoted from the manufacturers.

Can I be pregnant and not get a positive HPT?

Yes. Most women will register on HPTs by the time they are a few days late for a period, but not everyone will. If you suspect you are pregnant, you should see your doctor for a quantitative hCG test no matter what result you get from an HPT.

UTI Test Strip Answers

What are common symptoms of a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)?

Symptoms of a Urinary Tract Infection include burning or pain during urination, frequent urination, fever, back or groin pain, exhaustion, chills, nausea and vomiting; urine may appear to be cloudy, milky, or reddish if blood is present.

How to detect a UTI?

Urinary Tract Infections are detected by checking for the presence of nitrites and leukocytes in the urine.

What causes a UTI?

A Urinary Tract Infection occurs when bacteria multiplies. If the infection is not treated promptly, serious damage can affect the kidneys. Common causes of UTI are from the use of catheters, sexual intercourse, diabetes, insufficient fluid intake, or pregnancy. For persons who have kidney stones or enlarged prostate glands, chances are higher that they will contract a urinary tract infection.

Is it possible to have a UTI without having any symptoms?

Yes, this is possible; however, it is more common in young children, pregnant woman and the elderly.

Can I get a false positive with the New Choice UTI strips?

In most cases, NO. It is important to make sure that your genital area is clean before taking the test. In some cases, a false positive will result if the genital area hasn’t been cleansed thoroughly, there is vaginal discharge or menstrual blood in the urine; or there is an inflammation of the urinary tract.

Are New Choice UTI strips accurate?

Yes, New Choice UTI strips are accurate. They are the same strips that are used in clinics and doctor’s offices. These tests are lab tested for advanced quality assurance.

Do I have to test with the first urine of the day?

You can test any time of day; however, your first morning urine is recommended for best results. Avoid testing during menstrual period.

Do certain foods, alcohol, or common medications affect the test results?

Most substances will not interfere with the test. Consult your physician if you are taking antibiotics. Some medications can affect the color of your urine causing false negative results as well as large quantities of Vitamin C.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS:

  • For urine testing only
  • Do not use after the expiration date
  • Keep out of reach of children
  • For in-vitro diagnostics only. Not for internal use.
  • After testing, discard the used strip, open foil pouch and drying packet according to local regulations.
  • Store at room temperature at 59°-86°F (15°-30°C).

Our New Choice Urinary Tract Infection strips are fast and easy to use, 99% accurate and test for both Nitrite and Leucocytes.

Marijuana Drug Test Answers

How does the test detect marijuana usage?

When the marijuana drug test, such as the NEW CHOICE At Home Marijuana Drug Test Strip, is properly used with the urine sample, the urine specimen migrates up the card by capillary action.  If THC is not present at a great enough level in the urine sample, it will not be able to prevent its antibody on the marijuana drug test card from reacting with the drug-protein conjugate on the test card.  When this reaction occurs, a colored line appears in the Test Region and the result is Negative.  When marijuana is detectable in the urine it prevents the antibody from reacting with the drug-protein conjugate.  Therefore, no colored line appears and the result of the marijuana drug test is Positive.

If a person smokes marijuana and then is tested an hour later, would it have time to show up in the urine?

Most likely not. Generally it takes about 2-5 hours for a drug to show up after consumption.

How accurate is drug testing in urine?

Laboratory test results for drugs of abuse have indicated a greater than >98% accuracy when used according to the provided directions.

Is it possible to test positive for THC (Marijuana / Cannabis) from exposure to second hand smoke?

NO! Urine concentrations of THC above the cut-off sensitivity level of the test, or a positive result, is possible only through use/inhalation. However, second hand smoke will be in the system, but not at the concentrations that would indicate drug abuse.

Can commonly used chemicals and substances such as vitamins, penicillin, aspirin, caffeine and acetaminophen (Tylenol), affect the results?

No. The results are not affected by these substances. Urine drug tests are substance and derivative metabolite specific. The commonly taken medications are chemically and structurally different after being metabolized by the body from the drugs being tested for and therefore, under most circumstances, they do not interfere with test results.

Can I put less than three drops of urine in the test?

NO, the test will not function properly.

Can the test be altered or tampered with in order to affect the results?

This is possible if the test specimen is switched.  Also, there are fluid intake adulterants that can neutralize the drug or its metabolite so it shows as absent on the test.

What is the best time of day to take the test?

The morning is the best time to take the test.  The more water and/or fluids that are drunk throughout the day can dilute the urine.

General Answers

What is a Private Label?

Private-label products, also known as “store brands” are typically those manufactured or provided by one company for offer under another company’s brand. Private-label goods are available in a wide range of industries. They are often positioned as lower-cost alternatives to regional, national or international brands, although some private label brands have been positioned as “premium” brands to compete with existing “name” brands.

SCI Medic, Inc. is an industry leader in offering FDA-approved point-of-care and over the counter rapid diagnostics.

What are the benefits of Private Label?

What is meant by FDA Cleared?

FDA cleared refers to medical devices (link to medical devices in the second paragraph) that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined to be substantially equivalent to another legally marketed device. A premarket notification referred to as a 510(k), must be submitted to FDA for clearance. A 510(k) is most often submitted by the medical device manufacturer.

Medical devices, as defined by the FDA, are medical machine, contrivance, implant, in vitro reagent, or other similar or related article, including a component part, or accessory that is: Recognized in the official National Formulary, or the United States Pharmacopoeia, or any supplement to them.

SCI Medic, Inc. line of pregnancy test, ovulation test, drugs of abuse tests, fecal occult blood test for colon cancer screening and urinary tract infection test strips have met the FDA registration and clearance process.

What is meant by FDA Registered?

Establishments that are involved in the production and distribution of medical devices intended for commercial distribution in the United States (U.S.) are required to register annually with the FDA. Most establishments that are required to register are also required to list the devices and the activities performed on those devices at that establishment

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