Superdrug
Early Signs Pregnancy Test
6.3/10 overallAbout £4 for 1 test
A budget own-brand midstream pregnancy test that claims detection up to 6 days before a missed period.
The verdict
Superdrug's Early Signs Pregnancy Test is a budget own-brand midstream test claiming detection up to 6 days before a missed period, priced at around £4 for one test with a 5-minute result time. It's a reasonable choice for routine testing or as a cheap backup. The clearest reason to be cautious: as an own-brand product it doesn't publish the same independently reviewed clinical sensitivity data that backs Clearblue and First Response's early-detection claims.
This is a simple midstream pregnancy test stick, held directly in the urine stream rather than needing a separate collection cup, with a claimed result window of 5 minutes and detection from up to 6 days before a missed period.
Against the Boots Pregnancy Test Strips and One Step Ultra Early Strips also in this category, Superdrug's version sits in the same budget bracket, competing on price rather than trying to match the digital readout of the Clearblue Digital test or the three-way format of First Response's Triple Check kit.
Being a line-read test rather than a digital one, it carries the usual risk of squinting at a faint second line, and as an own-brand product it doesn't publish the same independently reviewed clinical sensitivity data that backs Clearblue and First Response's early-detection claims — the "6 days early" figure should be read with that in mind.
It's a reasonable choice for routine testing or as a cheap backup to a more sensitive test, rather than a first choice for someone wanting the clearest possible early read.
Is the Early Signs Pregnancy Test worth it?
- Very low cost per test, cheaper than Boots and Clearblue equivalents
- Simple midstream format needs no separate cup
- Results in 5 minutes
- Widely available in Superdrug stores and online
What are the downsides of the Early Signs Pregnancy Test?
- Line-based read carries more room for interpretation than a digital test
- Sensitivity claims are not independently verified to the same standard as Clearblue/First Response
- Single-test packs mean no backup if a line is faint
Specs
- Format
- Midstream stick
- Display
- Line-read (two lines)
- Pack size
- 1 or 2 tests
- Result time
- 5 minutes
- Early detection claim
- Up to 6 days before missed period
How we scored it
Accuracy & Sensitivity
Claimed detection accuracy and, for pregnancy tests, how early before a missed period it can pick up hCG.
Claims 6-days-early detection like the pricier tests in this category, but as an own-brand product it lacks the independently published clinical sensitivity data that backs Clearblue and First Response.
Ease of Reading
How unambiguous the result is — digital word result vs. a line you have to interpret yourself.
Traditional two-line read is more prone to faint-line ambiguity than the Clearblue digital test's plain pregnant/not-pregnant readout.
Value per Test
Cost per individual test in the pack, since these are used repeatedly rather than bought once.
At around £4 a test it undercuts every other test in this category, making it the clear value pick for routine or backup testing.
Weighted by importance for this category — see our editorial policy for how we test.
How this review was done
We haven't used the Early Signs Pregnancy Test ourselves yet. This review is built from Superdrug's published specifications and product information, and scored the same way as everything else on the site. We'll update it, and the badge above, once we've tested it hands-on.
How it compares
| ClearblueDigital Pregnancy Test with Weeks Indicator | BootsPregnancy Test Strips, 5 Tests |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | About £4 for 1 test | £10.00 (2 tests) | £4.99 (5 tests) | £3.00 (2 tests) |
| Overall score | 6.3/10 | 8.2/10 | 6.9/10 | 7.1/10 |
| Format | Midstream stick | Digital, word result | Line test strips | Line test |
| Pack size | 1 or 2 tests | — | 5 tests | 2 tests |
Frequently asked questions
How early can the Superdrug Early Signs test detect pregnancy?+
It claims detection from up to 6 days before a missed period, though as an own-brand product it doesn't publish the same independently reviewed clinical sensitivity data that backs Clearblue and First Response's equivalent claims.
Is the Superdrug test a midstream or dip test?+
It's a midstream stick held directly in the urine stream rather than needing a separate collection cup, with results in 5 minutes.
How does the Superdrug test compare to Boots and One Step tests?+
It sits in the same budget bracket as the Boots Pregnancy Test Strips and One Step Ultra Early Strips, competing on price rather than trying to match the digital readout of Clearblue Digital or the three-way format of First Response's Triple Check.
Does the Superdrug test pack come with a backup?+
It's sold in single-test packs (or 2), so a single-test pack leaves no backup if a line reads faint.
Guides that mention this
Reviewed by
Sepehr
Software engineer, soon-to-be dad, uncle to four — the tech-obsessed half of the two of us testing this stuff. Currently building this site with my wife, ahead of our own baby arriving.