Lia Diagnostics, Inc. announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance for over-the-counter use of the Lia Pregnancy Test, the first and only FDA-cleared, flushable, biodegradable pregnancy test. Lia features a proprietary coating technology, combined with nonwoven and paper techniques, that eliminates the need for plastic, creating a new category of water-dispersible, eco-friendly diagnostics.

Lia was created for women who value privacy, empowering users to choose how to share their results. Lia provides users with the convenience to flush their results, eliminating evidence of a pregnancy test. Lia is more than 99% accurate when used on the day of your expected period.

Lia is the result of years of research that combines the desire for discretion with sustainable materials and novel engineering into a pregnancy test that doesn’t harm the earth. Lia is made of the same natural, plant fibers as most toilet paper and weighs less than six squares of the leading three-ply toilet paper.

“1987 brought us the first cell phone, the boombox, the Apple personal computer, and the at-home pregnancy test. They ushered in the era of portable, personal devices, changing the way we communicate and how we share news. It has been 30 years since 1987, and these revolutionary innovations have all advanced significantly – except for one: the at-home pregnancy test,” states co-founder & chief executive officer Bethany Edwards. “It is the same, stiff, plastic relic highlighted in movies for its lack of privacy – someone sees the positive result in the trash, and breaks the news before you can! Worse yet, they are bulky, expensive, and add two million pounds of plastic and digital waste to U.S. landfills every year. At Lia, we have modernized the pregnancy test, ditching wasteful plastic and unnecessary electronics for a streamlined alternative that is both good for the environment and more discreet for its users.”

Co-founder & chief product officer Anna Couturier Simpson states, “Pregnancy tests account for enough plastic waste to travel from Philadelphia to the Space Station and back seven times. Lia is the only discreet pregnancy test made with zero glass fibers, batteries, plastic or nitrocellulose – elements found in nearly all single-use diagnostics available on the market today. Lia provides the only sustainable solution to-date.”

Lia made its global debut on December 4, 2017, at TechCrunch Disrupt Berlin’s Startup Battlefield, the world’s leading authority in debuting game-changing technologies and revolutionary startups, and was named one of five finalists. 

As part of Lia’s continued commitment to women, customers can champion for women’s reproductive health by donating Lia pregnancy tests to worldwide women’s health organizations. Donations of $10 will provide one Lia pregnancy test to non-profit organizations including Planned Parenthood, Planned Parenthood Global, Whitman-Walker Health, PreserveFertility.org, and SOS Grossesse via www.meetlia.com. Lia is expected to be available to consumers in mid-2018.