PREGNANCY TEST USING THE MALE TOAD

Abstract

The technique of this new pregnancy test is simple: 10 ml. of morning specimen urine is injected subcut. in the toad (Bufo arenarum). After a period of 2 or 3 hrs., a drop of the toad''s urine is obtained by means of a pipette inserted in the anal canal, and is placed under the microscope. The positivity or negativity of the reaction is indicated by the presence or absence of spermatozoa in the toad''s urine. 102 tests were performed. The speed of the reaction shows, in 100% of the positive tests, that spermatozoa appear in the toad''s urine within 3 hrs. following the injn. of urine. The specificity of the reaction is shown by the fact that the injn. of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone propionate, thyroxin, insulin, adrenaline, desoxycorticoster-one, and urine samples from 77 non-pregnant subjects, gave negative results. This pregnancy test has the following advantages: speed of the reaction, simplicity, clear end-point, specificity, economy.