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Dr Odile Bagot (Gynecologist-obstetrician)
An Israeli start-up has developed a first saliva test kit to detect pregnancy, the Salistick. A device that we could see in a few months on our shelves.
Women (and couples) looking to expand their families may soon have their pick of tools to find out whether or not they will soon be parents. Salignostic, an Israeli start-up has developed a pregnancy test that can be used easily and anywhere and at any time since it is a simple saliva test as compact as a felt pen.
A non-invasive test of astonishing simplicity
“The product is very simple, easy to use and provides accurate results within minutes”, says Salignostics. According to the company, this saliva test is advertised as the only home pregnancy test in the world that detects early pregnancy by taking a saliva sample instead of urine tests from the first day of a pregnancy loss. rules.
However, its operation is the same as for a urine test, since it involves detecting a pregnancy hormone, beta HcG, in saliva. Concretely, it will be enough simply to place a foam stick in the mouth, a few seconds, before placing it in its base, which reveals in 10 minutes one or two colored bands, depending on the result.
A long-awaited and useful device
“The idea of a saliva pregnancy test is a good idea” reacts Dr. Odile Bagot, gynecologist who is part of our Doctissimo expert committee, “Above all, it is easier and more hygienic than peeing on a strip”. The expert especially finds it useful in certain cases: “Par example in women who have a treatment incompatible with pregnancy. Having a quick saliva test to do every month if they are trying to have a child would allow them to stop their treatment very early, and without any invasive procedure”.
Before seeing the model in question, however, the doctor questions its reliability. “Sscientifically, it would still be necessary to know the sensitivity and specificity of this test. Its specificity, which I suppose must be 100% means that if the test is positive, there can be no error, there is indeed a pregnancy. Sensitivity is knowing can you already be pregnant when the test is negative for the moment. It depends on the level of pregnancy hormones in the blood which will be correlated to the pregnancy hormone in the saliva. But that we can measure the pregnancy hormone in saliva is not surprising.
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The saliva test, an idea that is developing in the field of analysis
Jerusalem-based Salignostics was founded in 2016 by a team of researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, who have many years of experience uncovering the secrets of saliva. Rich in their discoveries, they are developing devices to accurately detect a range of physiological circumstances, including Covid 19, and today pregnancy. “Saliva is the key to rapid diagnosis for various medical reasons. It is the only non-invasive, easy and hygienic way to detect hormones, viruses and even diseases”, says Professor Aaron Palmon, co-founder of Salignostics. The company had already carried out a test of the same type to detect Covid. “With SaliStick, we leverage the powerful diagnostic capabilities we were able to create from saliva analysis. This product completely eliminates the need for blood and urine samples during pregnancy tests.”
The Salitstik which has already been approved by European CE certification is expected to hit stores in Europe, South Africa and Israel in the first quarter of 2023.
Dr. Bagot also recalls that a saliva test is also being studied to detect endometriosis early.