Salistick The World’s First Saliva Pregnancy Test

Salistick: World’s First Saliva Pregnancy Test

Taking a pregnancy test just got a lot less awkward.

Salistick is the world’s first saliva-based pregnancy test. Instead of the usual urine test, you simply place a foam-tipped stick in your mouth like a thermometer. That is it. No bathroom. No mess. Results in minutes.

It was developed by Israeli startup Salignostics and is now available in over 1,500 stores across the UK, Europe and beyond.

How Does Salistick Work?

The science behind it is simple.

Your saliva contains thousands of proteins including the pregnancy hormone called β-hCG (beta human chorionic gonadotropin). This hormone starts showing up in saliva roughly three to four weeks after conception and keeps rising as pregnancy progresses.

Salistick detects this hormone in saliva using lateral flow technology. the same type used in COVID-19 rapid tests. That is why it feels so familiar to use.

Here is how you do it:

1. Place the foam-tipped stick in your mouth for a few seconds to collect saliva
2. Put the stick into the small plastic tube provided
3. Wait and read the result

Two lines mean pregnant. One line means not pregnant. Results are ready within a few minutes and can take less than 10 minutes in total.

One important tip: wait 30 minutes after eating or drinking before you take the test.

How Accurate Is It?

This is the first question everyone asks and it is a completely fair one.

In clinical trials with over 300 women, Salistick showed around 95% accuracy when taken from the first day of a missed period. That is slightly lower than most urine-based tests which sit closer to 99%. But for many women the added convenience is worth it.

Salistick is the only CE-approved saliva-based pregnancy test on the market and has been named a 2023 Time Magazine Best Invention, that makes it a big recognition for a brand new category of home testing.

There is also a companion app that lets you share results digitally with a partner or family member.

Salistick vs Regular Pregnancy Test

Here is a simple side by side so you can see exactly how they compare.

Both tests detect the same pregnancy hormone. Salistick just does it in a cleaner and more private way.

Where Can You Buy Salistick in the UK?

You can find Salistick at Boots and Superdrug stores across the UK. It costs £9.99 which puts it right in line with most standard pregnancy tests so you are not paying a premium for the upgrade.

Within its first year on shelves Salistick crossed 500,000 units sold or ordered. That is a very clear signal that women are actively choosing it over what they grew up using.

It has also recently launched in Germany through the Rossmann pharmacy chain which has around 5,000 stores across Europe. It is available in Israel too through Super-Pharm. The list of countries keeps growing.

What Is Happening Next?

Salistick is growing fast. In December 2024, Salignostics received approval from Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) — one of the strictest regulatory bodies in the world. The company is now working toward U.S. FDA clearance in 2025. 

At the Medica 2025 medical technology fair in Germany, Salignostics unveiled the next generation of Salistick. The new version includes subtle flavors during saliva collection and offers a better user experience while keeping the same high accuracy.

Salignostics was also recognized in 2024 as one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential in Healthcare.

Beyond pregnancy testing, the company is developing saliva-based tests for conditions like strep throat, sexually transmitted diseases and cardiac risk markers. The same spit-based technology could change how we test for a lot of things.