World's First Saliva Pregnancy Test Launched In UK; Can Detect Viruses, And Diseases Too
For the test to work, a woman must place a foam-tipped stick from the kit in her mouth for a few moments, like a thermometer.
A revolutionary product that can tell women if they are pregnant from just their saliva has been launched in the UK. According to Metro, Salistick is the first product in the world that can determine pregnancy with just a 'spit test'.
It will offer women an alternative to traditional urine-based pregnancy tests and is available in the UK and Ireland. A Jerusalem-based start-up, Salignostics have developed the test kit. The company said it is based on the technology used to make Covid testing kits.
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Around 97% accurate
The test uses spit to determine if you are pregnant, rather than urine like most tests on the market, and is around 97 per cent accurate. This makes it easier and more pleasant to use, according to manufacturers Abingdon Health.
Chris Yates, the company's chief executive, said: "This novel technology provides women with an enhanced user experience. "It offers the ability to test anywhere, anytime, and for the testing experience to be shared with a partner and other loved ones."
Around 22.5 million pregnancy tests are believed to have been taken last year in the UK. Traditional urine pregnancy tests work by testing for a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin that is produced when a fertilised egg attaches to the lining of the uterus. Many claim to be around 99 per cent accurate, but in reality, this depends on when the test is carried out because HCG levels take a few days to become detectable.
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How does it work?
Salistick tests for the same hormone in spit to determine if you are pregnant and tests show it has comparable accuracy to traditional tests. For the test to work, a woman must place a foam-tipped stick from the kit in her mouth for a few moments, like a thermometer. This collects a sample of saliva. Results can be read within five to 15 minutes, said the company, adding that early indications appear as early as three minutes.
Additionally, it can spot if you're pregnant as early as a day after a missed period.
According to an old Times of Israel report, Salignostics received certification for Salistick to be marketed in the European Union last year. It has also applied for FDA approval to sell the product in the US. Salignostics launched the product after conducting clinical trials in Israel on more than 300 pregnant and non-pregnant women.
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The company's founders spent years studying saliva for scientific purposes before developing user-friendly gadgets that accurately detect a wide range of illnesses and disorders, from malaria and Covid-19 to cardiovascular risk.
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