hi there, I have limited experience using ovulation kits, and I hope this can help. To start off with, the hormone that the kit is testing for is not HCG, but leutenising hormone, just to get us on the same page in case someone has sold u HCG stick as ovulation ones. Your sticks should specify for LH use and detection. Once u get a surge, eg, the test line is as dark or darker than the control line, then that is a positive. This should theoretically mean that u should ovulate within 24-36 hrs. You could continue to test afterwards to make sure that the surge recedes and goes to negative, but most ppl dont.I found with the kits that I was using that I kept on getting positives, over a period of two weeks I got about 5 positives!! I asked the doc about this and she said that my body may be adjusting after birth control and also that I may generally have a high threshold for the hormone. For me, the ovulation sticks didnt work,and just got me altogether more paranoid. Good luck!! Candice xx