First-ever saliva pregnancy test via Superdrug to Britain and Ireland as Covid-19 test group Abingdon agree distribution deal
- Salistick offers ‘enhanced user experience, with high accuracy’
- The test will be available through 400 Superdrug stores and online
York-based Abingdon Health has launched the first-ever saliva pregnancy test in the UK and Ireland.
The AIM-listed company, which was contracted to manufacture Covid-19 lateral flow tests for the Ministry of Health and Social Care, told investors Monday it is now the exclusive distributor of Salistick in the countries.
Salistick, developed by Israel’s Salignostics, offers “an improved user experience, with high accuracy for early pregnancy” as an alternative to traditional urine tests, Abingdon said.
Salistick offers “an improved user experience, with high accuracy for early pregnancy” as an alternative to traditional urine testing
The group added, “Salistick offers the ability to test anywhere, anytime, and to share the testing experience with a partner and other loved ones.”
Abingdon is partnering with Superdrug for the launch, with health and beauty retailer Salistick initially rolling out from 400 of its 900 stores in the UK and Ireland.
The test will also be available through Abingdon Simply Test, the group’s direct-to-consumer e-commerce offering.
In addition to providing distribution support, Abingdon provides contract development services to Salignostics to scale up the Salistick product for manufacturing and will continue to provide contract manufacturing services to Salignostics going forward.
It is estimated that 12.5 million pregnancy tests will have been performed in the UK by 2022, with the global market for pregnancy test kits estimated to be worth £1.7 billion by 2022 and expected to reach £2.28 billion by 2028, according to projections from Arizton.
Chris Yates, CEO of Abingdon Health, said: ‘This new technology offers women an improved user experience; offers the opportunity to test anywhere, anytime and to share the experience with a partner and other loved ones.
“We are pleased to have supported our partner Salignostics Ltd through the development process through to production and now commercial launch, and look forward to further deepening our partnership.”
Abingdon Health Shares rose nearly 18 percent at the opening to 17.25p. Their value has increased by more than 50 percent in the past 12 months.
The group took advantage of the pandemic and distributed Covid-19 antibody tests at home from its production units in Doncaster and York.
Salistick has co-branded Abingdon Simply Test, a range that now includes over 15 self-tests.