Do Evaporation Lines Disappear?
Evaporation lines are pesky things- they can often be misinterpreted, by unknowing pregnancy test users, as faint positive test results.
But why do they appear? Can evaporation lines disappear?
This article will answer those questions and more!
In this article:
- What is an Evaporation Line on a Pregnancy Test?
- Why do Evaporation Lines Disappear or Appear in the First Place?
- When Do Evaporation Lines Disappear?
- Positive Result Line vs. Evaporation Line – 3 Differences
- 3 Tips on How to Prevent Evaporation Lines
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Words
What is an Evaporation Line on a Pregnancy Test?
Evaporation lines refer to the faint, colourless line that appears after some time in a urine strip pregnancy test. People who are not familiar with these often misinterpret their pregnancy test results, thinking that their test is showing a positive test line and that they are pregnant.
If you aren’t sure whether the line you are seeing is an evaporation line or false positive, you can read our article on Evaporation Line or false positive.
Why do Evaporation Lines Disappear or Appear in the First Place?
The most common reason why evaporation lines appear on home pregnancy tests is that the pregnancy test stick is left longer than what’s suggested in its instructions. As a result, the urine starts evaporating, causing a faint second line to appear.
Another reason it appears is that you got a pregnancy test kit that is more sensitive to the pregnancy hormone that gives you a positive test result (human chorionic gonadotropin – HCG) than others. These types of kits might show a faint evaporation line quicker than the others.
Some pregnancy types of pregnancy tests are more likely to present you with an evaporation line.- namely blue dye pregnancy tests are more likely to show an evaporation line than a pink dye pregnancy test. You can read more about it in our article Pink Dye Pregnancy Tests
When Do Evaporation Lines Disappear?
Unfortunately, evaporation lines will not disappear, even when you try to remove them with water. If you are not confident with the pregnancy test result, it’s highly recommended that you take another test, taking care to follow the instructions properly, to avoid a false positive pregnancy test result.
Positive Result Line vs. Evaporation Line – 3 Differences
Aside from the question “Do evaporation lines disappear?” you might also be wondering how you can tell the difference between a positive pregnancy test line and an evaporation line. In that case, here are the main distinction between the two lines:
1) Line Thickness
One of the main ways of distinguishing an evaporation line, on a pregnancy test, from a positive result line is by looking at its thickness. Positive result lines will closely resemble the pregnancy test’s control line.
On the other hand, the thickness of the evaporation lines is usually not consistent. It will also appear to be streaky.
2) Colour
The colour of the positive result line is similar to the control line. Even though there are instances when the result line is faint, the colour of the dye is still noticeable. This means that if the control line is pink, then the positive result line will also have a pink hue.
So, do evaporation lines have colour?
Evaporation lines are usually colourless streaks, however, on a pink dye pregnancy test, an evaporation line may be a faded grey, and on a blue dye pregnancy test, it may be a grey or even a lighter shade of blue.
3) Reaction Time
Another telltale difference between a positive result line and an evaporation result is the time it took for it to appear. The positive result line usually appears between 3-5 minutes.
On the other hand, an evaporation line might start to appear after 10 minutes of taking the test. This is because it’s around this time that the urine used for the test starts drying, causing it to evaporate.
If you are wondering, “do evaporation lines disappear on pregnancy tests?” The quick answer is: no. Once the evaporation line appears, it means that the urine has already dried up.
3 Tips on How to Prevent Evaporation Lines
By now, you already have a clear answer to the question, “do evaporation lines on pregnancy tests disappear?” The next thing that you should know about is how to prevent it from happening to get the most accurate result possible.
Here are some tips on how to prevent evaporation lines on pregnancy tests:
1) Follow the Pregnancy Test Kit Instructions
The general steps on how to use a pregnancy test kit are the same. However, these often differ in terms of how long the results will appear.
It’s best to read the whole leaflet first before peeing on the stick, to avoid inaccurate results. This will also save you from needing to redo the test again, which can be time-consuming and expensive.
2) Set a Timer
The main reason evaporation lines appear is that the pregnancy strip is left alone for too long. To avoid this occurrence from happening, you should set a timer alarm. Just follow the instructions for the particular test kit that you are using and set a timer for the wait time stated on the packaging.
3) Pick a Reliable Pregnancy Test Kit Brand
One of the possible reasons why evaporation lines appear is because the pregnancy test you are using is too sensitive. This is why it’s best only to buy a pregnancy test kit from a reputable brand.
Don’t just take whatever is at the counter in pharmacies- do your research. You can check their accuracy and their sensitivity on their websites. You could also try looking at the recommended brands on women’s forums.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Evaporation Lines Disappear with Water?
Do preg test evaporation lines disappear when you add water? The answer is no; it won’t disappear, even if you put water on the test. Plus, if you put water on the pregnancy test, it will significantly affect its accuracy. It’s best to discard used pregnancy tests so that you won’t get confused once the evaporation lines appear.
Do Evaporation Lines Disappear After A While?
Do evaporation lines disappear over time? The answer is also no, it won’t disappear even after some time. However, the colour might fade away a little after 48 hours. But it will still be visible.
Is it Possible for a Test with an Evaporation Line to be Positive?
Yes, it is possible for a test that has an evaporation line to be positive. This can be easy to distinguish because the positive result line will have a dye colour similar to the control line.
Are Evaporation Lines Blue?
The colour of the evaporation line depends on the kind of test purchased.
If you purchase a pink dye test, then the evaporation line colour will either be colourless or grey.
If you purchased a blue dye test, then it will most likely either be a colourless, grey, or a faded blue evaporation line that you see on the pregnancy test.
Do Evaporation Lines Disappear on a Clear Blue Pregnancy Test?
Some people ask: do evaporation lines disappear clear blue? The answer is no because an evaporation line on clear blue tests has a faint hue that is close to being colourless. An evaporation line is a faint line that closely resembles a water spot. The difference is that it won’t disappear even after some time.
How Common Are Evaporation Lines?
Evaporation lines are actually a rather common occurrence!
They usually appear when the results are read too late, or due to other user errors.
Final Words
Do evaporation lines disappear? No, evaporation lines do not disappear, which is why it’s better to get a new pregnancy kit for a more accurate result.
Get a digital pregnancy kit if you still feel like the results are questionable. The worded results are straightforward and super easy to interpret; you can’t get much simpler than results that read “pregnant” or “not pregnant”! However, the downside is that it is much more expensive for digital pregnancy tests. Then again, paying more for convenience and peace of mind is a fair trade-off.
Pink dye pregnancy tests are a great alternative to blue dye tests, as they don’t tend to show evap lines.
If you have a late period, negative pregnancy test and white discharge, why not check out our article: Late Period, Negative Pregnancy Test & White Discharge – 7 Reasons Why
If you have had a faint positive pregnancy test and then negative the next day, there are plenty of reasons for that too.
My name is Louise and I am the Digital Marketing and Administrative Assistant at MyBump2Baby. I have been writing in the parenting niche for over 2 years specialising in fertility, pregnancy, baby and baby name support articles.