July 06, 2015
Lia Diagnostics/for PhillyVoice
Lia Diagnostics plans to offer the first flushable home pregnancy test sometime in 2017.
For the first time since its introduction in 1977, the home pregnancy test is getting a major tune-up.
Lia Diagnostics, a Philadelphia startup selected by DreamIt Ventures in January for its accelerator program, has developed a card-sized pregnancy test that folds out into a panty liner. The test is made of cellulose, a paper-like organic polymer that's found in trees and cotton. Tests on the market today are made of plastic.
What this means in a practical sense is that the all-female team at Lia Diagnostics has designed the first pregnancy test that is flushable. Which, aside from saving space at the landfill, also means no more awkwardly rummaging through a trash can to hide evidence of the test.
The makers of the test claim that it has the same accuracy rate as what's currently on the market and produces a result in about the same time (two to five minutes). A diamond marker inside the liner determines whether enough urine sample has been accumulated, and then provides the result. If a test is positive, lines will appear on the left side of the liner; if negative, the lines will appear on the right side.
The flushable home pregnancy test will be contained in an envelope. Lia Diagnostics / PhillyVoice
Lia, founded by Bethany Edwards, Anna Couturier, Sarah Rottenberg and Frances DiMare, is targeting a 2017 introduction to the market. In the meantime, they're seeking FDA approval and additional funding for operations and further improvements to the product.
Just last month, Lia Diagnostics earned an award from Investors Circle Philadelphia for best healthcare product addressing market needs among low-income individuals. As part of that same awards round, it was also recognized as the most "investment-ready" health startup in the city.
