A young woman comes to the neighborhood clinic explaining that she had a negative urine pregnancy test last week but a positive test today. What is the best explanation?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: It is probable that the hCG levels were not high enough to be detected last week. This is because hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is the hormone produced during pregnancy that is detected in pregnancy tests. In early pregnancy, hCG levels can be low and may not be detectable by a urine test until they reach a certain threshold. Therefore, a negative test last week could be due to the hCG levels being below the detection threshold at that time. A positive test today indicates that the hCG levels have increased and are now detectable.
Summary of why the other choices are incorrect:
B: It is likely that you may not be pregnant, so wait to see if you get your period. This is incorrect because a positive test indicates pregnancy, and waiting for a period may not be appropriate if the woman is indeed pregnant.
C: Don't worry, this happens sometimes. You should perform another test in a few days. This