Discovered the initial pregnancy test: creators of the world's pioneering websites
The Aschheim-Zondek pregnancy test, developed in 1928 by Bernhard Zondek and Selmar Aschheim, was a groundbreaking achievement in the field of obstetrics. This test, which directly linked hormone presence to pregnancy, provided a scientific method rather than symptom-based diagnosis.
Initially, the test used mice, but later iterations employed rabbits. The cultural phrase "the rabbit died" as confirmation of pregnancy stems from this animal-based test, where the rabbits' ovaries responded to the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in a woman's urine. This biological assay was widely used for several decades due to its reliability compared to previous methods.
In 1931, the Friedman test was introduced, replacing immature female mice with adult female rabbits in the Aschheim-Zondek test, allowing for the test to be completed in under two days. This test was one of the first reliable biochemical tests in obstetrics, marking a major advance in medical diagnostics concerning pregnancy and laying a foundation for hormone detection techniques in clinical medicine.
The impact of the Aschheim-Zondek test was significant. It allowed for early detection of pregnancy, as early as five days after a missed period. This test also paved the way for home pregnancy tests, which now detect the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).
However, the sacrifice of the rabbits was still necessary in the animal-based tests. The search for a more humane and efficient method led to the development of antibody-based immunoassays in the mid-20th century. These newer tests use antibodies to detect the presence of hCG with greater speed, sensitivity, and without the need for living animals. Antibody tests are now standard due to their convenience, rapid results, and accuracy, superseding the bioassay method of injecting animals.
Despite facing hostility, Aschheim and Zondek made their discovery during a period known as the "gold rush era of hormones". They teamed up in 1919 at the Women's Clinic of the Charité in Berlin. However, due to antisemitic laws under Nazi rule, they were forced to flee Germany. Aschheim fled to France and died there in 1965, while Zondek later relocated to New York to continue his research and died in 1966.
The knowledge gained from the Aschheim-Zondek test laid the foundation for future advancements in obstetrics and clinical medicine. The test's development and impact are a testament to the power of scientific discovery and the progress made in medical diagnostics over the years.
In the realm of science and health-and-wellness, the Aschheim-Zondek test played a pivotal role in the diagnosis of medical-conditions like pregnancy. This test, first introduced in 1928, laid the foundation for home pregnancy tests and hormone detection techniques in clinical medicine. antibody-based immunoassays, a more humane and efficient method, were developed to replace the animal-based tests like the Aschheim-Zondek test, thanks to scientific advancements in the medical field.
