Salistick, the world’s first rapid saliva-based pregnancy home test kit, has finally hit the Israeli market after an extensive rollout in England, Ireland and Sweden. It will be sold across 285 branches of Israeli multinational pharmacy chain Super-Pharm, as well as on its website, at a launch price of 24.90 NIS ($6.95).
The product, which detects the pregnancy hormone β-hCG as early as the first day of a missed period, has sold over 100,000 units since being launched in the UK in July 2023. It has also been selected as one of TIME magazine’s Best Inventions of 2023.
According to market research, the global market for pregnancy tests was estimated to be worth around $1.7 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow to approximately $2.3 billion by 2028. In Israel, the pregnancy test market was estimated at about 20 million shekels in 2022, with one million pregnancy tests sold in the country each year.
The test kit was developed by Jerusalem-based startup Salignostics, based on its proprietary saliva-based hormone detection technology used in the company’s SaliCov rapid antigen saliva test kit to detect COVID-19.
Dr. Guy Krief, co-founder and deputy CEO of Salignostics, said the company’s market research suggests that around 70% of women would prefer saliva-based pregnancy tests over a traditional urine test.
“The field of diagnostics is rapidly advancing, becoming more accessible, personalized, and available at home,” he said. “Our innovative and groundbreaking products align perfectly with this trend. We offer a ‘tiny laboratory’ integrated into easy-to-use products that do not require users to handle chemical solutions or perform complex operations.”
Salignostics manufactures its products at a factory located in the Galilee community of Lavon, only a few kilometers from the border with Lebanon.
Despite the challenges faced during the current security tensions, the company has continued its operation as usual, and is now working on test kits for throat cancer and streptococcus.
“Our vision is to continue developing friendly and accessible products,” said Krief.
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