Challenge: to come up with ideas for an affordable screening kit to test methyl mercury levels in your body

about this challenge

Heavy metal poisoning can affect anyone. This can have devastating effects, which range from reduced IQ, development and behavior problems to severe kidney and brain damage. Of course, most people know you shouldn't ingest heavy metals directly. However, it is the slow chronic exposure through for example contaminated water or food as sushi, which can affect even you and me. It's the build-up of metal in organs that can have long lasting health effects and where many people are not aware of.

Can’t we solve the problem of heavy metal poisoning together?
Clear Light Ventures and Enviu want to tackle the problem of heavy metal poisoning with you. We think that awareness around the topic and the availability of an affordable screening kit to test heavy metals in your body are a way to solve this issue. Go to the About page to read why!
For more information, criteria to join and the challenge rules, download the summary below.

download summary

Oral Fluid Heavy Metal non-invasive Screening Tool

Description

Eugene Elwell, community member, sent this test method for lead:

A swab of the gum line has produced a screening test. The Oral Fluid Testing will replace the standard use of blood lead samples and it will be "a milestone for lead testing on a universal scale". Dr. Anil Mangla

OFT Laboratories LLC has a patented oral fluid test and intends to design and market oral fluid test kits related to Lead and heavy metals toxicity testing, drugs of abuse, steroids, HGH and other testing markets.

We have completed a double blind clinical trial in collaboration with Georgia Department of Community Health Division of Public Health and Emory University Hospital, Children Health Care of Atlanta GA. and Dr. Robyn Hannigan of University of Mass. Boston. Our Clinical Trial included 475 children with both blood and oral fluid. With a correlation of .96 Sensitivity and .99 Specificity.

More can be found on the website of OFT Laboratories LLC: http://www.geomedanalytical.com/oftlabs.htm

Comments

Peter Sullivan

On December 12, 2012 05:32

Eugene - so happy you were able to get the lead test to the market. Thanks for joining the challenge.

I'd love to see some sort of point of service version of the test.

Could it be combined with 23andme's DNA spit test? That would be another way to get reach/distribution. They have just lowered their price to $99. We could ask if 23andme is interested.

Post your comment

Please log in to post a comment.

Sitemap

About the Toxic Metal Challenge

We challenges a global crowd to come up with business concepts for an affordable screening kit to test methyl mercury levels in your body. Thereby we aim to create more awareness about the issue of mercury poisoning, build a community around it and offer a solution to the illness.

About this website

On this website ideas and concepts for affordable screening kits to test mercury levels in your body are shared. People apply for this challenge to be able to join the Toxic Metal Challenge.

Enviu realized this platform to facilitate companies in idea generation and co-creation with the goal to develop solutions that have a positive impact on the environment and the society.

More information

For more information you can get in touch with us via Fransje de Gelder: fransje@enviu.org