This saliva test stick knows how stressed you are

It’s not as if any period in human history has been particularly pleasant, but we do seem to be living in very stressful times. Maybe it’s not stress that’s changed, but we’re more able than ever to notice, monitor and analyze what’s going on in our bodies. Here at CES 2025, startup Eli Health is launching Hormometer, an at-home testing kit Cortisol And progesterone levels.

A hormone meter is a stick with a collection tip on one end that you can hold in your mouth for 60 seconds. Once the spit is absorbed, you sit on the table for 20 minutes while the microfluidic network built into the cartridge starts working. After that, the test will start displaying lines of a certain color, which can be read and interpreted by your smartphone camera.

Once your individual baseline levels are established, the app will then be able to provide helpful suggestions on how to better manage your health. These details are likely to become more detailed over time, as Eli Health says it is creating the first dataset of its kind. Which, if you’re not aware, means that your hormone levels are potentially being transmitted to a very large database of all of its users. The company will have to answer many questions about how it plans to protect the privacy of its users, especially in the United States.

Cortisol, of course, is known as the stress hormone, which increases when you’re in a difficult situation. It’s cortisol that’s behind your fight-or-flight response, raising your blood sugar to make you ready to fight or flee, and suppressing other vital body functions to do so. High cortisol levels will weaken your immune system, waste your muscles, and prevent bone growth.

Meanwhile, progesterone is essential for regulating the reproductive system, especially for those who are able to become pregnant. Low levels can lead to a risk of ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, or premature birth. Meanwhile, excessively high levels can lead to problems with temperature and mood regulation as well as decreased fertility. Progesterone is sometimes given to transgender individuals as well, as it is thought to play a role in breast development.

It is worth noting that saliva testing kits are not particularly new, and we have reported on them in , and . The attractive thing about this device, and the rest of the current range of saliva analysis tools, is its ease of access. Eli Health is not stopping at just these two hormones, and says it is already developing tests for testosterone and estradiol.

The first tests will be available for purchase in the US and Canada starting in January 2025, with different subscription plans available, including one where each test will cost $8 if you commit to a full year.