Savvycheck is a new at-home product for women to diagnose yeast infection. Currently sold only in Switzerland, Scandinavia, and Israel, the polyclonal antibodies test is a product of Savyon Diagnostics, an Israeli company.
Early feedback indicates that the new test is a welcome addition to the world of women’s health. “The response was very positive,” says Dr. Michael Dan, Professor of Internal Medicine at Tel Aviv University who was involved in the clinical trials for the test. “With this new kit, a woman can not only treat herself, but can do it appropriately, by being able to diagnose herself by simple means. This kit is an important step forward.”
Simplicity is one of the Savvycheck’s main advantages. The kit is composed of a sampling swab and disposable detection device. After a woman takes a sample from herself, she inserts the swab into the device. From there, the kit uses what’s known as lateral-flow technology – the same process used in many pregnancy tests. As the antigens contained in the vaginal sample travel down the test strip, they react with a complex containing anti-Candida antibodies, and move towards a control line and a test line. If the control line turns blue, the test is working. If the test line turns blue, the woman has a yeast infection.
Tests have shown a 100% concordance between women performing the tests on themselves and doctors performing the tests. The accuracy rate is over 90%.
Simplicity is one of the Savvycheck’s main advantages. The kit is composed of a sampling swab and disposable detection device. After a woman takes a sample from herself, she inserts the swab into the device. From there, the kit uses what’s known as lateral-flow technology – the same process used in many pregnancy tests. As the antigens contained in the vaginal sample travel down the test strip, they react with a complex containing anti-Candida antibodies, and move towards a control line and a test line. If the control line turns blue, the test is working. If the test line turns blue, the woman has a yeast infection.