Spit test for pre-eclampsia

Filed in archive Pregnancy on May 11, 2007

Health and Fitness at ArcaMax Publishing tells of a new test for a life-threatening disorder:

A home test which uses spit allows mothers-to-be to check for themselves whether they are at risk for pre-eclampsia, says a British study.

The test is expected to be more reliable than the traditional blood pressure and urine tests conducted in doctors' offices and hospitals, according to the study published in Chemistry & Industry.

Pregnancy's Weekly Blog explains pre-eclampsia this way:

Also known as toxemia, preeclampsia affects some 5 percent of pregnancies and is a leading cause of maternal and fetal illness and death, particularly in developing nations. Signs include high blood pressure, swelling of the ankles and the presence of protein in the urine. The condition typically appears after the mid-point of pregnancy.