A revolutionary product that can tell women if they are pregnant from just their saliva has hit the shelves in the UK. The test kit, called Salistick, has been developed by Jerusalem-based start-up Salignostics and will be marketed in the UK under an exclusive deal with York-based Abingdon Health. The kit detects b-hCG, the pregnancy hormone. It has already been launched in Europe, South Africa, and the UAE.
The kit uses a lateral flow assay to measure the concentration of b-hCG in saliva, and it provides results within 10 minutes. It is significant improvements on the usual urine-based home tests, which typically take around 25 minutes to read and can often give false positives, particularly in cases of early pregnancy. The b-hCG levels in saliva rise significantly as the fertilized egg attaches to the uterus wall. It is estimated that 80% of couples trying to get pregnant will be successful. However, the success rate varies from person to person and can be affected by age and other factors.
According to Metro, the new device will be available at 400 Superdrug stores and online from the beginning of February 2023. The test is a little more complicated than a typical home pregnancy test, as people must wait 30 minutes after eating or drinking before using it. This allows the system to detect a low level of b-hCG, which can predict the chances of the baby’s birth. The test will also provide information about the earliest date a woman can become pregnant and if she is likely to miscarry.
Unlike traditional urine-based home pregnancy tests, which are not always accurate in the first few weeks of a missed period, Salistick is expected to be 99% accurate from the second day of a missed menstrual cycle. The device is based on an innovative salivary gland molecular technology that enables the detection of biomarkers in the saliva. The technology combines chemistry, biology, and physics to transform the saliva into a reliable body-fluid sample for lateral-flow immunoassays like this b-hCG Pregnancy Rapid Test.
Salistick is just one of several medical tests developed in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Other innovations include the iClean sanitary pad, which can detect traces of E. coli in vaginal secretions, and the pill, which can detect several severe health conditions in a person’s urine.
The invention of a new home pregnancy test is the latest development to make it possible for more people to access healthcare from the comfort of their homes. The device is set to be a game-changer for millions of women who are unable or unwilling to visit their local GP or have no regular access to a family doctor. Despite its advantages, some experts are skeptical about the benefits of this kind of home testing for various reasons.
