User:Madeleine ghillany/sandbox

Industry: Women’s Health

Founded: 2015

Founder: Bethany Edwards and Anna Couturier-Simpson

Headquarters: Philadelphia, PA

Products: Flushable pregnancy test

Website: www.meetlia.com

Lia Diagnostics is a Philadelphia-based company that makes flushable diagnostic devices.[1][2][3]

The company has one product, the Lia Pregnancy test. The Lia test is an FDA-approved flushable and biodegradable pregnancy test made out of paper.[1]

Lia Diagnostics won TechCrunch Disrupt Berlin in December of 2017.[4]

HISTORY

Lia Diagnostics was founded in 2015 by University of Pennsylvania graduates Bethany Edwards and Anna Couturier-Simpson, and by University of Pennsylvania professor Sarah Rottenberg.

PRODUCTS

The Lia pregnancy test is a plastic-free, over-the-counter diagnostic device that tests for the presence of the hormone hCG in urine. Using patented technology, the Lia test is able to remain rigid during use, but disperse as thoroughly as three-ply toilet paper when flushed in a standard toilet. Independent laboratory testing has confirmed that the Lia test biodegrades 100% in soil in under 12 weeks. Lia Diagnostics claims that these features make the test more environmentally friendly than traditional plastic counterparts.[6]

The company cites discretion as a second benefit of the Lia test, since its flushability prevents the potential privacy issues of leaving a used plastic pregnancy test in the trash.[7]

SEE ALSO

Pregnancy Test

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin

Immunoassay

Microfluidics

REFERENCES


 * 1) Sarah Perez https://techcrunch.com/2017/12/04/lia-is-launching-the-first-ever-flushable-pregnancy-test/
 * 2) Jonathan Takiff: http://www.philly.com/philly/business/technology/philly-based-lias-home-pregnancy-test-wins-fda-berlin-techcrunch-disrupt-20171206.html
 * 3) https://www.sep.benfranklin.org/companies/lia-diagnostics/
 * 4) https://technical.ly/philly/2017/12/05/lia-diagnostics-wins-first-prize-techcrunch-disrupt/
 * 5) Zoe Braccia: http://www.thedp.com/article/2017/12/penn-first-flushable-pregnancy-test-fda-approved-lia-diagnostics-upenn-philadelphia
 * 6) Michael Johnsen: https://www.drugstorenews.com/article/lia-diagnostics-gains-fda-approval-flushable-biodegradable-pregnancy-test/
 * 7) Terena Bell: https://tonic.vice.com/en_us/article/43qdpb/new-flushable-pregnancy-test-helps-women-in-abusive-relationships