SupaMed is pleased to announce that a revolutionary product – the world's first saliva-based pregnancy test, SaliStick™ – will be available on shelves in Australian pharmacies and Coles stores from today.
Despite there being a wide variety of pregnancy test options available, innovation in pregnancy testing methods has remained limited. The introduction of SaliStick™ represents the most significant breakthrough in pregnancy testing in over 70 years, since the introduction of at-home urine tests in the 1960s.1
The innovative approach to pregnancy testing offers women the opportunity to test anywhere, anytime, in a hygienic and non-invasive way in less than 15 minutes. Developed by Salignostics, following decades of scientific research in rapid medical detection and saliva testing, SaliStick™ detects the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) - a pregnancy hormone - through a mouth swab.2 SaliStick™ has already gained recognition globally, being named by TIME Magazine as one of the Best Inventions of 2023.3
"We are proud to play a role in bringing meaningful innovation to Australia," said Michael Cima, Director, SupaMed, a division of CC Supplies. "As one of the recognised leaders in the at-home saliva diagnostics space, we've noticed a significant shift towards non-invasive saliva tests since COVID. During this time, we were actively involved in making sure Australians had access to over 60 million of these tests. Convenient to use saliva tests are no longer a novelty."
"This change can simply be attributed to their user-friendliness and convenience, driven by patient demand and advances in technology. It's great to see this being reflected in pregnancy testing products, allowing women to share this special milestone with their loved ones more easily now. We believe the SaliStick™ test is a genuinely disruptive product."
For a long time, women have only been able to confirm pregnancy either through at-home urine-based pregnancy tests or through a blood test in a medical setting. The role of saliva in pregnancy testing has received limited attention until recently.
Saliva contains over 5,000 proteins, many of which reflect those found in blood.4 With validation through clinical testing and accuracy rates of 96% just one day after a missed period and 97% two days after, SaliStick™ offers an accurate, innovative and rapid alternative for at-home urine-based tests.2
"The ability to detect pregnancy through saliva is a remarkable step forward in women's health. From a clinical perspective, what matters most is early and accurate detection - and saliva-based tests deliver on both fronts," said Dr Anita Sharma, General Practitioner, Medical Director and founder of Platinum Medical Centre. "Family planning and pregnancy testing are different for everyone; it's a very personal journey. It's wonderful to see these innovations bringing new, easy-to-use, and accurate options to the pregnancy test market."
Market research revealed that 68% of women would prefer a saliva-based pregnancy test over traditional urine tests, while 21% were open to using either method, highlighting a strong demand for more convenient and accessible alternatives.5
"As pharmacists, we see firsthand how important convenience, comfort and privacy are when it comes to reproductive health," said Ms Riley Price, Pharmacist at Chempro Chemists. "The market trends confirm a clear preference for innovative, convenient to use products that better fit current lifestyles. We're here to support our customers at every stage of their family planning journey, helping them navigate the options and tailor choices to suit their personal preferences and circumstances."
Pregnancy testing with SaliStick™ involves three simple steps:
- Step 1: Collect saliva. Wait at least 30 minutes after eating or drinking. Place the absorbent tip in your mouth for 90 seconds.
- Step 2: Wait for 5 minutes to allow the test to process your sample.
- Step 3: Check the result.
SaliStick™ is now available in selected pharmacies and Coles stores nationwide.
