Israeli Saliva-Based Pregnancy Test Sold At UK’s Top Pharmacy Chain

Leading British pharmacy chain Boots is selling the world’s first saliva-based pregnancy test, made by Jerusalem startup Salignostics, under its own brand name.

Each Salignostics kit, known as the Salistick, includes two separate tubes – one that collects saliva and a second that contains an active ingredient for the test. The two tubes, when slotted together, are approximately the size of a traditional pregnancy test. 

The user puts into her mouth the tube to collect the saliva, which has a cotton pad at the end. She then sucks on the pad – usually for around one minute – until it has absorbed sufficient saliva and the color of an indicator located under the pad changes from yellow to blue. 

Once the indicator has changed color, the tube is screwed into the slightly larger other tube. The saliva then drips into the larger tube, which contains a test for a hormone only present in women expecting a baby.

Like most other home pregnancy tests, the tube will show one line if the test is negative and two if it is positive. 

In 2023, the Salistick was chosen as one of TIME Best Inventions of the year, and Salignostics co-founder and SCO Dr. Raluca Cohen made it onto the magazine’s list of 100 most influential people in health.

“The launch of Salistick in a powerful chain like Boots is another milestone in our ongoing momentum in Europe in general and the UK in particular,” said Salignostics co-founder and deputy CEO Dr. Guy Krief.

“Boots is the leading health and beauty retailer in the UK, and the fact that it will offer a saliva-based pregnancy test under its own brand will improve the familiarity, trust, and adoption of the women who will purchase Salistick.”