Digital Ovulation Test: pre-set threshold, baseline, or a combination of the two?

Thanks for your kind words, MikaylaD.  We're honored to be on this journey with you.

The sensitivity of the Clearblue Digital Ovulation Test (with pink caps) is 40 mIU/ml.  It's still important to start testing on the correct day for your cycle length, as it's possible to 'miss' your LH surge if testing begins too late in your cycle.  Please let us know if you have other questions.  We're happy to help!

Thanks Karen. What is the sensitivity of the CBE Fertility Monitor? Is it a little less sensitive than the 40 mlU/ml?

The reason I asked the first question, is that last cycle I used the CBE Fertility Monitor and got highs (2 bars) but no peak (3 bars with the "egg" in the top.) It has worked fine for me in finding the LH surge as expected in previous cycles.

This cycle I plan to use a "double check" with the Digital Ovulation Test. I plan on starting using that on the day that the monitor displays the first high reading. That way, I'll still be using the monitor to continue to look for the LH "peak", but will also be using the Digital Ovulation Test as a double-check later in the day.

That's why I want to know if the digital ovulation test will display peak if the LH level is high, even on the very first test. (Obviously, I don't want to leave it too long and possibly miss the surge, but because I'm also using the Fertility Monitor I also want to conserve what sticks I can to keep things economical. I think introducing the Digital Ovulation Test into the routine from the first day of monitor high is a good compromise!)

Thanks for writing back, MikaylaD.

I'd like to assure you that there may be a small percentage of cycles where you won't see Peak Fertility with the monitor.  This can happen if a test is inadvertently missed, if you have an unusually short or long cycle, of if you don't ovulate during this cycle.  If you don't see Peak Fertility over a number of cycles, you may want to mention this to your doctor, but we understand the monitor has worked fine for you in previous cycles :)

Clearblue Digital Ovulation Tests and our Fertility Monitor are both at least 99% accurate at detecting the LH surge which occurs before ovulation.  Still, we recommend that you use only 1 product at a time.  The products work differently, so they may give you different results when used together.  

Clearblue Digital Ovulation Tests are strictly looking for a rise in LH.  The threshold that must be reached is 40 mIU/ml of LH.  This product is not designed to detect LH on the first test.  For accurate results, you should begin testing on the correct day according to your cycle length.

In comparison, the monitor is not just looking for LH at a certain level.  The monitor compares each test stick to the next to establish your result, and you must have a significant rise in estrogen in order to see Peak Fertility.

I hope this clears things up!  If you have other questions, just let me know!

Thanks again,

Actually, I'm more confused now!

To clarify my situation, I didn't miss any tests, nor did I have an unusually short or long cycle (it was 28 days), and I did ovulate according to the rise in basal body temperature. I used the Fertility Monitor according to instructions by dipping the test strip in first-morning-urine for a timed 15 seconds. So, I think the missed peak reading was due to something else, perhaps a very quick LH surge that dissipated quickly and was missed by testing just once a day...
Since I can only use the CBE monitor once a day, it's necessary for me to use multiple products if I wish to test for the LH surge more than once a day. And that is why I am looking at using the CB Digital Ovulation Test as a back-up to find the LH surge.

So, let's see if I can clear up my confusion:

The CB Fertility Monitor is looking for a rise in LH above my personal baseline? I thought it detected a rise in LH above a pre-set threshold. (I know it looks for a rise in estrogen above my personal baseline, but it's not estrogen I'm concerned about finding.) Assuming estrogen levels are still high, if it is looking for an LH rise above a pre-set threshold, what is that threshold?

The CB Digital Ovulation Test is looking for an LH level above a pre-set threshold, which must reach 40 mlU/ml or above. However, if the very first test (say ovulation comes unexpectedly very early) is above 40mlU/ml, it will not show a peak reading? Is it programmed to show a low reading on the very first test, no matter what? I can use it beginning on the correct day according to my cycle length, but I'm still interested in knowing whether it can give a peak reading on the first test if the LH levels are indeed over 40 mlU/ml at the time of the first test.

Thank you for your patience with me. It's very helpful to be able to get clear explanations.

It's our pleasure to help, MikaylaD.  We didn't mean to cause confusion!

The Clearblue Fertility Monitor should show Peak Fertility at 40 mIU/ml or above, but may also show Peak at lower levels depending on the results of previous tests.  

Clearblue Digital Ovulation Tests can show an LH surge on the first day of testing if the level of LH is 40 mIU/ml or above.  The reason we recommend to start testing according to the chart in the leaflet is because if your surge is lower than 40 mIU/ml, the test is able to adjust to your personal hormone levels and still detect the surge.

Feel free to call us at 1-800-321-3279 if you'd like to talk through questions.  When calling, please mention reference #FB569.  We're here to help Monday through Friday from 8:30am-5:00pm ET.  Thanks!