another hpt question

What is the earliest that you can take a HPT? Do you think it is accurate if you take it too early?
TIA

Re: another hpt question

An HPT measures hcg - the pregnancy hormone. The "experts" say below 5 = not PG, over 10 = PG. A fertilized egg does not start to produce hcg until after it implants - generally 7-10 DPO (although some say 5-7 DPO).

Most HPT measure hcg at 25 or greater (almost all the digitals measure at 50). If you test too early, lets say 8 DPO and the egg is only starting to implant you will get BFN. On the other hand, if your egg started to implant at 5 DPO, by the time you're at 8 DPO your body will be producing hcg in a quantity that might trigger a + on a sensitive HPT.

The problem with testing too early is not so much whether or not you actually get a BFP, but whether you get a BFP because you tested 8 DPO with a very sensitive test, and then 10 days later AF shows up because you had a chemical.