We produce low-cost test strips that screen for Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) and Type 2 Diabetes by identifying biomarkers in urine. Our strips provide easy-to-interpret results in under 30 seconds while costing only 1/10th the price of current screening methods. We distribute our product to communities in developing nations by partnering with networks of Community Health Workers (CHWs) and established on-the-ground NGOs, thereby helping to bridge the gap between patients and healthcare.
The Problem
40% of pregnant women in Sub-Saharan Africa will get a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) during their nine month pregnancy, putting both themselves and their babies at risk. Millions are currently living with undiagnosed diabetes, many suffering from severe complications. Getting treatment is difficult because transportation is expensive, existing screening methods are unaffordable, and access to medical professionals is severely limited.
Our Solution
We’ve developed a platform printing technology that enables cheap and customizable test strips to be produced using a modified inkjet printer. We improve community-wide access to pre-primary healthcare by distributing these test strips through a trusted network of CHWs and NGOs in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Team
We are an interdisciplinary team from the Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship (HESE) program at The Pennsylvania State University. We work with a variety of government agencies, NGOs, and healthcare professionals.