@darien your body releases a hormone called the luteinizing hormone when your body releases an egg and that's what ovulation tests pick up to tell you when you're ovulating. If you're using just an ovulation test with 2 lines, the lines should appear to be the same color before its considered positive.

So basically...the surge is the release of the egg?

Its when your body releases an egg and that's when ovulation happens. Your body releases an egg every month to be fertilized and if it is not than your body cleans itself out to get ready for a new cycle and the possibility of fertilization and that's when your period happens and the cycle starts all over.