An unreadable or inconclusive result from a home pregnancy test indicates the test’s inability to provide a reliable positive or negative determination. This outcome necessitates careful review, as factors like insufficient urine, incorrect test procedure, expired test kits, or defective manufacturing can compromise the test’s validity. For example, a control line may not appear, or the test window might display an error message instead of the expected lines.
Understanding the reasons behind an unreliable result is vital because it prevents false hope or unnecessary anxiety. It ensures individuals do not make decisions based on potentially inaccurate information about their reproductive status. Historically, reliance on physical symptoms alone led to uncertainty; modern tests offer quicker, more objective results, but only when properly functioning.