Predictor was the first Home Pregnancy Test in 1971
Marketed in 1971, Predictor was the first home pregnancy test. For the first time, women had a simple and reliable way to find out whether they were pregnant or not. it was a major breakthrough. However, asking for Predictor at the chemist’s was still taboo at the time. That is why advertising leaflets had a token included in their pages saying, “A Predictor please”, thus allowing customers to be served discretely.
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From a little chemistry set…
 The first Predictor looked like a little chemistry set. You had to mix a few drops of urine with distilled water in a test tube and add a reagent. After shaking well, you had to leave it to stand somewhere perfectly still for two hours. You could then read the result in the mirror placed underneath the test tube stand. The experiment was like magic. At the time, it really was a technical feat. If a woman’s period was nine days late, she could find out in two hours whether she was pregnant or not. The procedure only took three minutes. However, it was absolutely necessary to carry out the test on the first urine of the morning, which is more concentrated.
… to multiple monoclonal technology
Nowadays, technology has progressed to such an extent that it no longer matters when you take the test. It is now possible to detect the tiniest quantity of the pregnancy hormone (hCG). The little chemistry set has been replaced by multiple monoclonal technology. The result remains stable for at least 30 minutes and a positive result is even permanent. The technological advances are always subject to a scrupulous testing in order to maintain the superior quality you would expect from Predictor. In 1971, Predictor was already more than 99 % reliable. |
