Last checked at 
(Alliance News) - Abingdon Health PLC on Tuesday said that Tesco PLC will roll-out Salistick, the first-ever saliva pregnancy test, in 298 stores and online from late-August.
Shares in the lateral flow contract development and manufacturing company were up 28% to 11.22 pence each in London early Tuesday.
Abingdon is the exclusive distributor of Salistick in the UK and Ireland on behalf of Salignostics Ltd, an Israeli developer of innovative saliva-based diagnostics tests.
As well as providing distribution support, Abingdon said it has been providing Salignostics with contract development services in scaling-up the Salistick product for manufacture and will continue to provide Salignostics with contract manufacturing services going forward.
Abingdon said the launch of Salistick will be focused on larger Tesco stores as well as online.
In June, Abingdon first launched Salistick in the UK and Ireland. It was launched across 400 Superdrug stores and online.
Abingdon noted that it is estimated that 12.5 million pregnancy tests were performed in the UK in 2022. The global pregnancy test kits market was valued at USD1.70 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 2.28 billion by 2028, it added.
Chief Executive Chris Yates said: "This novel technology provides women with an enhanced user-experience; offering the ability to test anywhere, anytime, and for the testing experience to be shared with a partner and other loved ones. We continue to explore distribution opportunities for Salistick both in the UK and internationally and we look forward to launching the Salistick dual pack in due course."
By Sophie Rose, Alliance News reporter
Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com
Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
