In view of the recent enquiries raised around pregnancy testing kits, including that women are being advised to purchase their own pregnancy testing kits and the possible reliability of such devices, especially those purchased from so called ‘pound shops’, the RCN response to this matter is as follows:
The RCN is aware that it has become common practice in primary care in some areas to advise women to use home pregnancy testing kits. We cannot comment on the safety or efficacy of any particular test, but self-testing kits like these are covered by EU law and regulated by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), so any tests sold in the UK should meet certain standards. Of course, sales of counterfeit medical devices have been reported.
The MHRA advice is that people only buy kits from a source they trust, and look for a CE mark on the packaging, which means that it meets the regulatory requirements. For more information, please see: