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Can this algae make animal testing obsolete?

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Katharina Schantz
July 6, 2026

A little-known algae could replace animal-derived ingredients used in medical diagnostics. A German start-up is developing animal-free pregnancy tests.

A German startuphas developed what it says is the world's first pregnancy test made without animal-derived antibodies. Instead of producing antibodies using animals such as rabbits or mice, the test uses marine microalgae. The European Union (EU)-certified product has been on sale since 2025. Its founders hope the technology will make diagnostic testing more Sustainability while helping reduce the use of animals in medical research.

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