A group of students from an Essex, England school has invented a condom that changes color when it detects STIs. The latex condom is coated with antibodies that react to STI bacteria, causing it to glow green for chlamydia, purple for herpes and genital warts, or blue for syphilis.
STIs can be spread through vaginal, oral and anal sex. They can also be passed from mother to child during pregnancy or birth, and among people who share infected drug needles.
Condoms that detect stds
Three teenage boys from Britain have invented a condom that changes colors when it comes into contact with STIs. The students, Daanyaal Ali, 13, Muaz Nawaz, 14, and Chirag Shah from the Isaac Newton Academy in London, won a TeenTech award for their invention, called S.T.EYE (a play on STI, or sexually transmitted infection). The teens won about $1,500 for their innovation and a trip to Buckingham Palace later this year.
The condom would have antibodies and antigens that could react with the bacteria or viruses in bodily fluids to change the color of the latex. The resulting change in color would indicate whether the person wearing it has an STI, such as green for chlamydia, purple for genital warts, yellow for herpes, or blue for syphilis. The teenagers took inspiration from a test for HIV that uses the same technique.
The teens’ innovative idea may be a long shot from reality, but it could inspire more people to use condoms and practice safer sex. The teens’ invention will need to address some key issues, including determining who is the target of the condom, how quickly it can change colors, and whether it can detect multiple diseases at once. In addition, the current tests for gonorrhea and chlamydia require urine or vaginal swabs to test for the bacteria, while tests for syphilis, herpes, and hepatitis B and C require blood samples.
Condoms that detect chlamydia
A group of teenagers from England’s Isaac Newton Academy has invented a condom that changes color when it comes into contact with an STI. The latex condom is coated in antibodies that will react with the antigens found in STIs and trigger a color change. The color will tell the wearer and their partner if they have an infection. The condom will glow green for chlamydia, yellow for herpes, and blue for syphilis.
This condom is still in the early stages, but if it’s successful, it could be very helpful. Currently, condoms offer only about 98% protection against STDs. But, this invention could reduce the number of infections, especially if it’s used with all sexual partners.
The inventors of this condom, Daanyaal Ali, Muaz Nawaz and Chirag Shah, say they want to make the condoms available in their country. They have already received a top prize at this year’s Teen Tech Awards. They will also be meeting Prince Andrew later this year.
While this is an interesting idea, it’s important to remember that condoms aren’t perfect. Even when they are used properly, STIs can spread through skin-to-skin contact that a condom can’t protect against. For example, if someone has herpes on their testicles and their partner touches those areas during sex, the virus can be transferred even though the condom is covering other parts of the body.
Condoms that detect syphilis
A group of school children has invented a condom that changes colour when it comes into contact with sexually transmitted infections. It would glow green for chlamydia, yellow for herpes, purple for genital warts and blue for syphilis. The students, Muaz Nawaz, 13, Daanyaal Ali and Chirag Shah, from England’s Isaac Newton Academy, were awarded the TeenTech award for best health innovation for their creation.
The condom has an outer layer covered in antibodies, which attach to the bacteria and viruses that cause STIs. When bodily fluids come into contact with the condom, they trigger an antibody reaction, causing it to change color. The students claim their invention could make detecting harmful STIs easier, and without the need for invasive tests.
Although the condom can detect a number of STIs, it cannot test for hepatitis B and C or HIV. Hepatitis and HIV tests require a sample of blood, which is not something most people want to do in front of their partner. These tests also take days to get results.
The teens’ idea might be an effective way to reduce STD cases, but it will have to overcome a few issues. First, it is not clear how the condom would work in abusive relationships. The information provided by the condom might be used to control and shame a partner, rather than to protect them. Additionally, there is a risk that the condom may not detect herpes, which is an issue for many people.
Condoms that detect HIV
Condoms provide effective protection against HIV and other STDs, including gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, herpes, and genital warts. They work by creating a barrier between your body and your partner’s, preventing the transfer of bacteria and viruses that can cause infections. They are also highly effective at preventing unplanned pregnancies. Condoms can be used for oral, vaginal, or anal sex. If you are using a condom for anal sex, it’s important to use it properly every time. If you have a sexual relationship with more than one person, it’s especially important to use condoms with each partner.
Three London teenagers are developing a condom that detects harmful sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia and syphilis. The teenagers, Muaz Nawaz, 13, Daanyaal Ali, 14, and Chirag Shah, 14, have designed a prototype that changes color when it comes into contact with antibodies and antigens in bodily fluids. It won them the top prize at a U.K. TeenTech competition and they have already been contacted by condom companies.
The teens say that their condom could be a helpful tool in abusive relationships, where victims may not feel comfortable discussing STIs. However, they warn that the test would not be as accurate as a standard laboratory STI test, which requires a blood sample to detect the antibodies. Moreover, the testers cannot predict whether the condom will react positively, since many STIs don’t show symptoms right away.
