"Hey Mela": First vegan pregnancy test on the market
The pregnancy test from start-up Phaeosynt is designed to use antibodies of purely plant-based origin – without animal suffering.
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On September 1, 2025, the world's first vegan pregnancy test, "Hey Mela", will be launched on the market. It was developed by the Hanover-based start-up Phaeosynt, a spin-off from Leibniz Universität Hannover. The test uses antibodies that do not contain any animal components and are produced in diatoms. With the alternative pregnancy test, Phaeosynt wants to offer an ethical and sustainable alternative to conventional pregnancy tests, whose antibodies have so far mostly been derived from animal sources.
"Hey Mela" promises a reliability of over 99% and would therefore be just as medically reliable as conventional products – can be used from the day your period is due. The company also wants to focus on sustainable packaging.
Vegan pregnancy test
Conventional pregnancy tests require antibodies that recognize the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). These antibodies are usually obtained by immunizing mammals such as mice, for which hundreds of thousands of animals are used every year in Europe alone. Another possibility, for which animal cell cultures are required, is also associated with animal suffering, as pregnant cows have to be slaughtered.
For "Hey Mela", diatoms are used, which are uncomplicated to grow, according to researcher Stas Hans. It requires salt water, light and a temperature between 18 and 25 degrees. "To produce the antibodies in the diatom, we transfer the blueprint for the antibody into the diatom, multiply it and then extract the antibodies and use them in this test," says Hans from Phaeosynt, who also presented the product on "Höhle der Löwen".
The start-up Abcalis, a spin-off from the TU Braunschweig, is also pursuing an animal-free approach, although its product is not aimed at end customers. Here, antibodies are produced entirely in a test tube using so-called phage display technology. It is based on the selection and optimization of antibody fragments in bacterial-like systems. This requires genetic material from human immune cells.
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According to Phaeosynt, the pregnancy test will be available both via the online store and in various drugstores across Germany.
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