A new pregnancy test that goes in your mouth will soon be available to buy.
Scientists have discovered that instead of peeing on a stick, the new discovery will test women’s saliva.
Both urine and saliva-based tests work by identifying the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG, a hormone specific to pregnancy which helps prepare the uterus for the developing embryo.
New pregnancy test goes in your mouth
The world’s first saliva-based pregnancy test, the ‘SaliStick’, is expected to go on sale next year, costing around USD$10.
Guy Krief, co-founder of Israel-based maker Salignostics, said it would enable couples to go through the experience of taking a pregnancy test together for the first time.
He added: "The concept is so modern and so different to the current way of doing things."
Results in 10 minutes
First, the woman places the foam-tipped stick in her mouth for a few moments, much as one would do with a thermometer.
Then she transfers it to a plastic tube, where a chemical reaction happens, giving a result in 10 minutes.
Mr Krief said: "It’s a lovely idea if you’re trying for a baby to be able to do the test in front of your partner – and hopefully celebrate the good news together immediately."
A trial identified pregnancies 95% of the time. The popular Clearblue brand of urine test claims to be more than 99% accurate.
Mr Krief said they expected to refine their product’s accuracy still further.
