evidence: Although some people claim to have had success with DIY pregnancy tests – which can be made with household products such as salt, sugar, and baking soda – experts stress that homemade tests aren't reliable and shouldn't be used in place of legitimate, over-the-counter options. Here's what you need to know. [...] Over-the-counter pregnancy tests work by testing your urine for elevated levels of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG. This hormone is produced during pregnancy and can be detected in a pregnant woman's blood and urine about 10 to 12 days after conception. The DIY tests also involve testing urine, but proponents suggest mixing together ingredients such as baking soda or vinegar to perform the test rather than peeing on a test strip. [...] - Salt: As with the baking soda test, the salt pregnancy test involves mixing equal parts urine and salt. This time, the salt is supposed to clump if you're pregnant. Again, there's no evidence to support this.