Pregnancy test: early tests from dm, Rossmann, Müller, and Clearblue compared

A pregnancy test answers a single question, and yet dozens of versions sit side by side in the drugstore: strips for €1.45, digital tests for almost €15, early tests with “6 days before” on the package. Which of these claims hold up, how early a test really shows something, and which test is worth the money: you will find the answers here.

The Pregnancy Test Calculator works out the day you can test. This guide compares the tests themselves.

Data box: What a test can detect on the day of the expected period

In a study of 221 women, the embryo had not yet implanted on the first day of the missed period in 10% of pregnancies. No test can therefore detect more than about 90% on that day; one week later, the figure is 97% (Wilcox 2001). According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 10 to 20 out of 100 pregnant women still get a negative result on that day (FDA 2019).

How a pregnancy test works

After implantation, the body produces the pregnancy hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). A urine test is a rapid test that turns positive as soon as the amount of hCG in the urine exceeds a certain level. This threshold is stated on the package as the detection limit, in mIU/ml (milli-international units per milliliter) or as IU/l, which means the same thing.

• Early tests respond from 10 mIU/ml.
• Standard tests are usually at 20 to 25 mIU/ml.

The lower the number, the earlier the test can turn positive. A laboratory evaluation of 18 test brands shows how much difference this makes: to detect 95% of pregnancies on the day of the missed period, a test would need about 12.5 mIU/ml (Cole 2004). A test with 25 mIU/ml detects about 80% on that day, a test with 100 mIU/ml only about 16% (Cole 2005).

A positive test shows hCG, not whether the pregnancy is intact or where it is located. Only an ultrasound can clarify that.

When is a pregnancy test reliable?

All manufacturers we checked state “over 99%” only from the day your period is due. For the days before, they give their own, lower figures. Pay attention to the wording: for Clearblue, “6 days before your missed period” means 5 days before the day your period is due, because the period only counts as missed on the following day (Clearblue Ultra Frühtest 2026).

These are the manufacturer’s figures for the Clearblue Ultra Frühtest (10 mIU/ml):

These figures come from laboratory tests with urine samples from early pregnancy, not from use by women at home (Clearblue Ultra Frühtest 2026). Independent figures are considerably lower; see the data box above. A negative early test therefore does not yet mean that you are not pregnant.

In everyday terms, this means:

• Early test: about 4 to 5 days before the expected period at the earliest, better 2 to 3 days before.
• Reliable: from the day your period is due.
• Negative, no period: repeat after a few days. If the test is still negative 7 days after the missed period, a pregnancy is very unlikely (familienplanung.de 2024).

The Pregnancy Test Calculator shows day by day when you can test after ovulation, a positive LH test, or sex.

Pregnancy tests compared

This section applies to Germany only.

The table shows tests from drugstores, pharmacies, and online pharmacies with the manufacturers’ information and prices from 25 October 2026 (shop price; for multipacks, the price per test, rounded).

The percentages in parentheses are manufacturer figures for the earliest day. For the Clearblue weeks test, two versions of the package insert are on the market: one states 65%, the newer one 80% (Clearblue Wochenbestimmung 2017 and 2025). Müller does not state the pack size for Duchesse.

Three things stand out:

• The price per test ranges from €0.20 to €14.49, even though all manufacturers state over 99% from the day of the expected period.
• Many low-cost tests come from the same factory. Mivolis from dm, One+Step, and the Austrian brand Pregnafix all name Hangzhou AllTest Biotech as the manufacturer (Mivolis 2026, One+Step, Pregnafix). PreSense and Müller’s house brand Duchesse are placed on the market by the same company, LaVita GmbH (dm, Müller).
• First Response is missing. The test that performed best in independent studies is not sold through regular channels in Germany, only as a US import via online marketplaces (see Which pregnancy test is best?).

Strip, stick, or digital?

Strips are the cheapest and a good fit if you want to test several times. You interpret the lines yourself, though.

Digital tests do the reading for you. That is exactly where their advantage lies: in one study, women read the result correctly over 95% of the time with the two Clearblue tests, and under 75% of the time with all other tests examined. A low-cost strip reached over 90% when read by laboratory staff, but under 75% when read by the women themselves (Johnson 2015). The first author, however, works for SPD, the Clearblue manufacturer.

Which pregnancy test is best?

There is no clear answer, because the independent evaluations are old and today’s products have rarely been tested directly. What the studies show:

Stiftung Warentest has not published its own evaluation of pregnancy tests. Öko-Test rated tests in 2009, but did not use them; it only checked measured values and package inserts (Öko-Test 2009). We did not find any independent evaluations of the low-cost drugstore strips such as Mivolis.

A German review counted over 15 test types on the market and concluded that many tests do not live up to the claims on their package inserts. It calls advertising claims such as “8 days before your period” unrealistic (Gnoth and Johnson 2014, co-author at SPD).

Our conclusion from the data:

• From the day of the expected period, price is secondary. All manufacturers state over 99% here; the differences lie mainly in the days before.
• For an early test, the detection limit is what counts. A test with 10 mIU/ml turns positive earlier than one with 25 mIU/ml.
• If you are unsure about reading the result, a digital test is the safe choice. It costs many times as much, though.
• If you want to test several times, low-cost strips make sense; you can confirm a positive result with a second test.

Pregnancy tests at dm, Rossmann, and Müller

All three major drugstore chains sell their own tests alongside Clearblue. We did not find any pregnancy tests in the range at Aldi and Lidl.

• dm: The house brand is Mivolis, as a strip for €1.45 and as a stick for €3.95, both with 10 mIU/ml and, according to the manufacturer, 6 days before the missed period. In addition, there are PreSense, Testa med, Ovy, hey mela, and several Clearblue tests, 16 products in total (dm, 25 October 2026).
• Rossmann: The house brand is facelle, as a strip early test and a stick early test, from 10 IU/l according to the product name. We were unable to retrieve current prices. In 2018, Rossmann recalled a digital facelle test because in rare cases it could falsely display “pregnant” (test.de 2018).
• Müller: The house brand Duchesse is available as a strip for €3.45 and as a stick for €4.95, both from the day of the expected period, and as an early test for €8.99, up to 4 days before the period is due according to Müller.

In online pharmacies, multipacks are the cheapest, for example One+Step Blue Line with 50 strips for €9.95 or the pharmacy’s own brand Redcare Fem with 5 sticks for €9.49 (Shop Apotheke, 25 October 2026).

How much does a pregnancy test cost?

Between €0.20 for a strip from a bulk pack and €14.49 for a digital early test (as of 25 October 2026). Plan on at least two tests: an early negative test should be repeated on the day of the expected period, and a faint positive one after 48 hours with first morning urine (familienplanung.de 2024, Mivolis 2026).

If the test is positive, you will need confirmation by ultrasound or blood test at your gynecologist or fertility practice anyway.

First morning urine or any time of day?

The sources do not agree on this. The FDA, MedlinePlus, familienplanung.de, and the gynecologists’ information site Frauenärzte im Netz recommend first morning urine because hCG is most concentrated in it. The British NHS, on the other hand, says the urine does not have to be from the morning (FDA 2019, MedlinePlus 2024, familienplanung.de 2024, Frauenärzte im Netz 2018, NHS 2022).

Clearblue distinguishes by timing: before the day of the expected period, it should be first morning urine; from that day on, any time of day works. For an accurate weeks indicator, the digital weeks test always needs first morning urine (Clearblue Ultra Frühtest 2026, Clearblue Wochenbestimmung 2025). We did not find a study that directly compares first morning urine with urine from later in the day.

For every test: do not drink large amounts beforehand, otherwise the urine is too diluted (Clearblue Schnell & Einfach 2019, Mivolis 2026).

How to read a pregnancy test correctly

A strip or stick has two lines: the control line (C) shows that the test has worked, and the test line (T) shows hCG.

A faint positive is positive. Even a faint second line indicates a pregnancy; according to familienplanung.de, a positive result is very reliable even with an early test (familienplanung.de 2024). Mivolis advises confirming a faint positive result after 48 hours with first morning urine (Mivolis 2026). By then, hCG rises considerably in early pregnancy.

Stick to the reading time. Every package insert limits the time window: Clearblue is read after 3 minutes and up to 10 minutes, Mivolis after 3 minutes and no longer after 10 minutes, One+Step and Ovy no longer after 15 minutes (Clearblue Ultra Frühtest 2026, Mivolis 2026, One+Step, Ovy).

Evaporation line. A line that appears only after the reading window, often colorless or gray, does not count as positive. We did not find any studies on how common such lines are.

False negative pregnancy test

A negative result even though you are pregnant happens considerably more often than a false positive. The reasons:

• Tested too early. The most common reason (FDA 2019, NHS 2022). In addition, cycles vary, especially the time until ovulation. Correctly predicting the day of the expected period is therefore harder than it sounds (Johnson 2009).
• Late implantation. In 10% of pregnancies, the embryo had not yet implanted on the first day of the missed period (Wilcox 2001).
• hCG fluctuates. In early pregnancy, the level in urine fluctuates strongly from day to day. In one study, intact hCG was, in isolated cases, even temporarily undetectable days after it was first detected (McChesney 2005).
• Urine too diluted. Drinking a lot beforehand lowers the hCG concentration (Mivolis 2026).
• Test not sensitive enough. Not every test reaches the detection limit stated on the package (Cole 2005, Gnoth and Johnson 2014).
• Very high hCG (hook effect). At extremely high levels, a rapid test can come out negative. This has been described in case reports, mainly with molar pregnancies (Winder 2017). For a test around the expected period, it plays practically no role.

False positive pregnancy test

A positive result is almost always correct (NHS 2022). Exceptions:

According to the manufacturer, clomiphene, painkillers, and the pill do not affect the result (Clearblue Ultra Frühtest 2026). What a chemical pregnancy means and what happens next is explained in the guide Chemical pregnancy.

Digital test with weeks indicator

The Clearblue test with weeks indicator shows not only “Pregnant” but also “1-2,” “2-3,” or “3+.” These are weeks since conception, not weeks of pregnancy. Doctors count from the first day of the last period, which adds about 2 weeks (Clearblue Wochenbestimmung 2025):

According to the manufacturer, the weeks indicator matches the time of ovulation in 93% of cases, measured with first morning urine (Clearblue Wochenbestimmung 2017, Johnson 2013, funded by SPD). More than 6 weeks after conception, the display can be wrong because hCG is then too high. Multiple pregnancies and ectopic pregnancies also distort it (Clearblue Wochenbestimmung 2025). The exact week of pregnancy and the due date are determined by ultrasound; the Due Date Calculator gives you a first estimate.

Pregnancy test during fertility treatment

After a trigger shot with hCG, a urine test is not meaningful in the first few days because it detects the hormone from the injection (Ovitrelle 2025, Brevactid 2024). After IVF, ICSI, or an embryo transfer, the fertility practice usually schedules a blood test that measures hCG as a number. Stick to this appointment. Which days apply after a transfer is shown in the IVF section of the Due Date Calculator.

Positive or negative test: what happens next?

Positive: Make an appointment with your gynecologist. If you have severe one-sided abdominal pain, shoulder pain, or bleeding, get examined right away, even without an appointment. These can be signs of an ectopic pregnancy (NHS ectopic pregnancy 2022).

Negative, your period comes: It did not work this cycle. The Ovulation Calculator shows you the fertile days in your next cycle, and an ovulation test shows the surge before ovulation.

Negative, no period: Repeat the test after a few days. If it stays negative and your period still does not come, have it checked by a doctor (test.de 2022). More on this in the section Negative test, no period.

If it does not work out over a longer period, the guide to infertility describes when an evaluation makes sense.

Frequently asked questions

When does a pregnancy test show a pregnancy?

According to the manufacturers, early tests with 10 mIU/ml can do so from about 5 days before the day of the expected period, but then only in just under 80% of pregnant women. A test is reliable from the day of the expected period (Clearblue Ultra Frühtest 2026, familienplanung.de 2024). The Pregnancy Test Calculator works out your test day.

How accurate is a pregnancy test?

From the day of the expected period, manufacturers state over 99%. Looked at independently, even an ideal test finds only about 90% of pregnancies on that day, and 97% one week later (Wilcox 2001). A positive result is almost always correct, a negative one less so (NHS 2022).

Which pregnancy test is best?

In independent studies, First Response performed best, but it is not available through regular channels in Germany (Cole 2011). From the day of the expected period, the brand plays a smaller role. For an early test, the detection limit of 10 mIU/ml is what counts; for reliable reading, a digital test.

Is a faint line on a pregnancy test positive?

Yes, if it appears within the reading time. Even a faint second line indicates hCG (familienplanung.de 2024). Confirm the result after 48 hours with first morning urine (Mivolis 2026).

Can a pregnancy test be a false positive?

Rarely. The most common reasons are an hCG injection during fertility treatment in the last 10 days, a very early miscarriage, a recently ended pregnancy, or an evaporation line after the reading time has passed (Ovitrelle 2025, Wilcox 1988, familienplanung.de 2024).

Do I have to use first morning urine?

Most sources recommend it for an early test before the day of the expected period; from that day on, any time of day is possible according to the NHS and Clearblue (FDA 2019, Clearblue Ultra Frühtest 2026, NHS 2022). Do not drink much beforehand.

Is the pregnancy test from dm any good?

According to the manufacturer, the Mivolis early test from dm has the same detection limit as the Clearblue Ultra Frühtest, 10 mIU/ml, and costs €1.45 (Mivolis 2026). We did not find an independent evaluation of the Mivolis test.

What does the weeks indicator on the Clearblue test show?

The weeks since conception, not the week of pregnancy. “1-2” corresponds roughly to week 3 to 4 of pregnancy (Clearblue Wochenbestimmung 2025).

Sources

Studies

• Wilcox AJ, Baird DD, Dunson D, McChesney R, Weinberg CR: Natural limits of pregnancy testing in relation to the expected menstrual period, JAMA 2001;286:1759-1761
• Wilcox AJ, Baird DD, Weinberg CR: Time of implantation of the conceptus and loss of pregnancy, N Engl J Med 1999;340:1796-1799
• Wilcox AJ et al.: Incidence of early loss of pregnancy, N Engl J Med 1988;319:189-194
• Cole LA, Khanlian SA, Sutton JM, Davies S, Rayburn WF: Accuracy of home pregnancy tests at the time of missed menses, Am J Obstet Gynecol 2004;190:100-105
• Cole LA, Sutton-Riley JM, Khanlian SA et al.: Sensitivity of over-the-counter pregnancy tests, comparison of utility and marketing messages, J Am Pharm Assoc 2005;45:608-615
• Cole LA: The utility of six over-the-counter (home) pregnancy tests, Clin Chem Lab Med 2011;49:1317-1322
• Johnson S, Cushion M, Bond S, Godbert S, Pike J: Comparison of analytical sensitivity and women's interpretation of home pregnancy tests, Clin Chem Lab Med 2015;53:391-402, first author at the Clearblue manufacturer SPD
• Gnoth C, Johnson S: Strips of Hope, Accuracy of Home Pregnancy Tests and New Developments, Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2014;74:661-669, co-author at SPD
• Johnson SR, Miro F, Barrett S, Ellis JE: Levels of urinary hCG following conception and variability of menstrual cycle length, Curr Med Res Opin 2009;25:741-748
• Johnson SR et al.: Accuracy of a home-based device for giving an early estimate of pregnancy duration compared with reference methods, Fertil Steril 2013;100:1635-1641, funded by SPD
• McChesney R et al.: Intact HCG, free HCG beta subunit and HCG beta core fragment, longitudinal patterns in urine during early pregnancy, Hum Reprod 2005;20:928-935
• Winder AD et al.: The “hook effect” causing a negative pregnancy test in a patient with an advanced molar pregnancy, Gynecol Oncol Rep 2017;21:34-36
• Gronowski AM et al.: Use of serum FSH to identify perimenopausal women with pituitary hCG, Clin Chem 2008;54:652-656

Authorities and consumer health information

• Home Use Tests: Pregnancy, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as of 29 April 2019
• Doing a pregnancy test, NHS, reviewed 9 February 2022
• Ectopic pregnancy, NHS, reviewed 23 August 2022
• Pregnancy test, MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, reviewed 15 October 2024
• Pregnancy test, familienplanung.de, Federal Institute for Public Health (Bundesinstitut für Öffentliche Gesundheit), as of 3 June 2024
• Signs of pregnancy and pregnancy test, Frauenärzte im Netz, BVF and DGGG, as of 15 March 2018
• Pregnancy tests: not all early tests provide certainty, Stiftung Warentest, 15 July 2022
• Recall of a Rossmann pregnancy test, Stiftung Warentest, 12 September 2018
• Pregnancy tests, ovulation tests: these are the best, Öko-Test, Kleinkinder yearbook 2009

Instructions for use and prescribing information

• Clearblue Schwangerschaftstest Ultra Früh, package insert CB14005, SPD Swiss Precision Diagnostics, 2026
• Clearblue Ultra Frühtest Digital, package insert 2300583.03, SPD Swiss Precision Diagnostics, 2020
• Clearblue mit Wochenbestimmung, package insert, SPD Swiss Precision Diagnostics, 2017
• Clearblue Multicheck mit Wochenbestimmung, package insert 2300687.01, SPD Swiss Precision Diagnostics, 2025
• Clearblue Schnelle Erkennung, package insert, SPD Swiss Precision Diagnostics, 2017
• Clearblue Schnell & Einfach, package insert 2300454.03, SPD Swiss Precision Diagnostics, 2019
• Mivolis Schwangerschaftsfrühtest, instructions for use, dm-drogerie markt and Hangzhou AllTest Biotech, 2026
• Ovy Schwangerschaftstest Teststreifen, instructions for use, Equinox Biotech, 2025
• Pregnafix Schwangerschaftstest, instructions for use, Hangzhou AllTest Biotech, distributed by ATT Drogerievertriebs GmbH
• Ovitrelle 250 Mikrogramm, package leaflet, Merck, as of May 2025
• Brevactid 5000 I.E., summary of product characteristics, Ferring, as of February 2024

Prices and product information (as of 25 October 2026)

• Mivolis Schwangerschaftsfrühtest, dm-drogerie markt
• Mivolis Schwangerschaftsfrühtest Stäbchen, dm-drogerie markt
• Clearblue Ultra Frühtest, dm-drogerie markt
• Clearblue Anzeige der Wochen digital, dm-drogerie markt
• Clearblue Schnell, ab 1 Minute, dm-drogerie markt
• PreSense Schwangerschaftsfrühtest, dm-drogerie markt
• Testa med Schwangerschaftstest Frühtest, dm-drogerie markt
• hey mela Schwangerschaftstest, dm-drogerie markt
• Duchesse Schwangerschaftstest, Müller
• Duchesse Schwangerschafts-Frühtest, Müller
• Duchesse Schwangerschaftsstreifen, Müller
• Clearblue Ultra Frühe Erkennung, pack of 5, Shop Apotheke
• Clearblue Ultra Frühtest Digital, Shop Apotheke
• Clearblue Schnelle Erkennung, pack of 3, Shop Apotheke
• One+Step Blue Line, Shop Apotheke
• One+Step ultra-sensitive pregnancy test 10 mIU/ml, Shop Apotheke
• David Schwangerschaftstest Streifen, Shop Apotheke
• Redcare Fem Schwangerschaftstest, Shop Apotheke
• EarliBird Ultrafrüh, Shop Apotheke
• Femtest Frühtest, Shop Apotheke