Home ovulation test, negative result. Test stick used to test urine for a hormonal surge that marks the onset of ovulation. Two lines (blue) appear in the result window. As the surge line (left) is not as dark as the reference line (right), the result is negative. Ovulation is the release of an egg (female reproductive cell) from an ovary. Because the egg only survives for 24 hours, detecting the start of ovulation aids planning for a pregnancy. The test stick has an absorbent tip (not seen) for dipping in a urine sample. The hormone detected is the luteinizing hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland, stimulating ovulation in women.