Pregnancy testing is a method used to determine if a person is pregnant. The most common tests detect the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in urine or blood. These tests can be done at home with over-the-counter kits or in a medical setting. Home tests are typically accurate when taken after a missed period. Blood tests, conducted by healthcare professionals, can detect pregnancy earlier than urine tests. There are two types of blood tests: qualitative, which simply checks for the presence of hCG, and quantitative, which measures the exact level of the hormone. Both methods are reliable for confirming pregnancy.