World’s First Rapid Saliva-Based Pregnancy Test Eliminates Need for Blood and Urine Samples

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 09 Dec 2022

Image: Salistick is the first rapid saliva-based pregnancy test (Photo courtesy of Salignostics)

Saliva contains over 5,000 identified proteins. With significant overlap to blood, saliva is considered the second most important body-fluid for diagnostics. Saliva is a complex fluid which contains markers for several diseases and a variety of hormones. The level of those hormones is significantly lower than in serum/blood or urine. Therefore, only a sensitive test will allow their detection. During pregnancy, the body produces the pregnancy hormone, hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). A portion of this hormone travels from the blood to the saliva. Levels of hCG continue to increase rapidly during the first three months of pregnancy. Now, a unique pregnancy test that can detect even the low levels of hCG in saliva, could spell the end of traditional tests involving urinating on a stick.

Salistick from Salignostics (Jerusalem, Israel) is the first rapid saliva-based pregnancy test for early and highly accurate pregnancy detection that does not require urine. The kit is based on the company’s revolutionary technology which detects the pregnancy hormone β-hCG in saliva from the first day of the missed period. The amount of this hormone increases as pregnancy progresses. The pregnancy test kit contains a sealed pouch with a collection handle, analytical unit and a preservative silica bag (to be tossed away), along with instructions for use.

The collection foam absorbs saliva from the mouth. When the user connects the collection handle to the analytical unit, the saliva is squeezed and migrates along a special membrane until it reaches the test zone. In the presence of the hCG pregnancy hormone, a pink line appears. The absence of this test line suggests a negative result. A pink control line appears if the test was performed properly. The test can be easily performed at home at any time of the day (30 minutes after drinking or eating). In laboratory testing with saliva samples of pregnant women from the first day after their missed period, SaliStick test gave 95% positive results. SaliStick is expected to be available for purchase in several European countries, as well as South Africa, UAE, and Israel from the first quarter of 2023. Salignostics is also developing other tests, including kits for detection of malaria, cardiac risk and H. pylori bacteria.

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