How to Use an hCG Solution to Make a Pregnancy Test Positive

Co-authored by Jennifer Mueller, JD

Last Updated: June 18, 2024 References

If you want to play a prank on a partner or a friend, you might be thinking about showing them a fake pregnancy test that shows you're pregnant. Because home pregnancy tests are known for occasionally giving false positives, there are ways you can rig this that don't involve simply drawing a line on the test with a marker. Since home pregnancy tests measure hCG in urine, using an hCG solution might seem like a good option—but it's not quite as simple as that. Here, we've gathered answers to some of your most common questions about using hCG solution to make a pregnancy test positive, along with some other options you can try.

Question 1 of 7:

How do home pregnancy tests work?

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Home pregnancy tests detect hCG in your urine. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone produced by the human body at the very beginning of pregnancy. Home pregnancy tests only show whether the hormone is present or not—they don't indicate the amount.^{[1]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

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- Most home pregnancy tests are sensitive enough to detect hCG within the first few days of pregnancy, so they don't need a high concentration of the hormone.

Question 2 of 7:

Can you buy hCG solution over-the-counter?

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Yes, but over-the-counter hCG won't turn a pregnancy test positive. If you do a search, you'll find over-the-counter hCG drops sold online, typically for weight loss. Unfortunately, these products don't actually have any real hCG in them and won't turn a pregnancy test positive.
- Over-the-counter hCG drops use homeopathic hCG, which is an herbal concoction designed to mimic the same effects of real hCG on the body.
- Even if you find drops that do contain real human hCG, the hormone is extremely diluted and would be unlikely to turn a pregnancy test positive.

Question 3 of 7:

How can you get real hCG?

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You can only get real hCG by prescription from a doctor. Real hCG is a prescription drug used to treat female infertility and some other hormonal issues. It's typically administered in injectable form. While just a couple of drops of this form of hCG would likely turn a pregnancy test positive, you'd have a hard time getting your hands on it.^{[2]
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US Food and Drug Administration
U.S. government agency responsible for promoting public health

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- Keep in mind that lying to a doctor to get a prescription for any drug is illegal.^{[3]
  X
  Research source} It's definitely not worth breaking the law just for a practical joke.

Question 4 of 7:

Will anything else make a pregnancy test positive?

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Yes, there are other substances that might work. Try apple juice or soda (such as Coke or Pepsi). The sugars in these popular drinks will sometimes trip a pregnancy test. Just pour a small amount into a cup and dip the pee strip of the pregnancy test into the liquid for a minute. Then, take the test out and wait the amount of time specified in the test instructions before checking your result.^{[4]
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- Keep in mind that home pregnancy tests are up to 99% accurate.^{[5]
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  Cleveland Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  
  Go to source} If you're trying to create a fake pregnancy test, you might need to do several before you get the result you're looking for.

Question 5 of 7:

Can you increase the likelihood of a false positive?

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Yes, you can use an expired test or use a test more than once. Pregnancy tests have an expiration date on the package. After that date, their reliability decreases, so you're more likely to get a false positive. Re-using a test also makes it more likely that you'll get a false positive.^{[6]
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- If you feel shy about using your own urine, you can just use water. It's just as likely to get you a false positive when you're working with an expired or used test.
- You can also try just leaving the pregnancy test out for a while—sometimes another line will show up that makes it look positive. This is actually an evaporation line, but if you're just using it as a joke, it might be good enough.

Question 6 of 7:

What can you do with a false positive pregnancy test?

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Only use it for a prank or a costume. Before you go to the effort to fake a pregnancy test, it's worth doing a little soul-searching about your reasons for doing it. Playing a joke on someone or using it as an accessory with a Halloween costume might be perfectly innocent things to do, but people could still be upset or offended.^{[7]
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- If you're just doing it to see how your partner reacts, it's usually better to simply have an open conversation with them rather than trying to trick them. Even if they're initially happy and excited about the possibility of you being pregnant, they're still likely to be hurt or upset when they find out the test was a fake.
- Acting like the fake pregnancy test is real and using it to extort money or anything else is a crime.^{[8]
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  Research source} It's also a bad idea to use a fake pregnancy test to try to get back at someone, even if you're not trying to get money from them.

Question 7 of 7:

What if you get caught faking a pregnancy test?

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The best option is to come clean and admit it was a joke. Acknowledge that you created a fake pregnancy test and that you intended it to be a joke. If the person is upset, apologize for hurting them. Take full ownership of what you did and ask if there's anything you can do to make it up to them.^{[9]
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Greater Good in Action
An initiative by UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center promoting science-based practices for a meaningful life

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- Talk to the person who caught you and ask them how they feel. Explain that you want to learn from your mistakes so you can be a better person in the future.

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Warnings

If you're using a fake pregnancy test as a prank, be aware that some people might get offended. Only play this prank on people you know well.

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Never use a fake pregnancy test to try to get money or anything else out of someone. You could be charged with fraud.^{[10]
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