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Medicine United Kingdom Idle

Students Win Prize For Color-Changing Condoms That Detect STDs 171

Posted by samzenpus from the so-what-does-plaid-mean dept.
New submitter PJ6 writes: Three students attending the Isaac Newton Academy in the UK won the Healthcare Category of the Teen Tech Awards, for their idea to use antibodies to create color-changing condoms to recognize STDs. They say the material, which is still in the concept stage, will turn green for chlamydia, yellow for herpes, purple for HPV, and blue for syphilis. The BBC reports: "The boys said they still have to test the science and feasibility of their idea. They want to work with a university on the science and say they've already been contacted by a condom company which is interested in working with them on developing the concept further."
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Students Win Prize For Color-Changing Condoms That Detect STDs More

Students Win Prize For Color-Changing Condoms That Detect STDs

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  • Must it be a condom? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by briancox2 ( 2417470 ) on Friday June 26, 2015 @03:13AM (#49992827) Homepage Journal
    How about just a small sample bit of test material that is packaged with the condom?
    As it stands you'd have to dip it in before you got the feedback. I'd prefer the feedback up front, I would think.

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by Anonymous Coward

      Because when you are about to get laid the last thing you want to do is spit in a test tube and run it through tests. By the time you get your results you will be flacid and she would be in a taxi going to someone who will fuck her.

    • You missed:

      still in the concept stage

      That means it's just an IDEA. Well, hell. I want an award for my idea of a thing just like a Star-Trek replicator, except it makes really cool sparkly FX when it operates.

      • Re:Must it be a condom? (Score:5, Insightful)

        by Joce640k ( 829181 ) on Friday June 26, 2015 @06:37AM (#49993423) Homepage

        I have an even better idea! How about a condom that kills all known STDs while you're doing the deed. That's a much better idea than one that just changes color. It can have enzymes in it. I predict the whole STD thing will be history within a decade.

        Please send my prize to the usual address...

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by gtall ( 79522 )

      That's easy to fix, put the magic chemicals on three popsicle sticks. Test the obvious three orifices. If negative, you are good to go. If not, you can still be friends.

      • Nah; i like it this way more. Can you imagine - you think you might have gotten an STD and someone hands you a condum and says go get fucked.

      • Yea, how about you go ahead and pilot that "popsicle stick in the ass" idea, and get back to us with your findings....

        I recommend keeping tweezers handy.

      • I don't think popsicle sticks would be very pleasant. A good finger condom might go further toward convincing your partner that they were having a good time.

    • Re: (Score:3)

      by tomhath ( 637240 )
      Just supply a few smaller versions of the condom that are finger sized. Then you don't need the dip test on the real thing.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by durrr ( 1316311 )

      Nah, I'm sure the rainbow condoms will be a hit.

  • Lot of test. (Score:5, Funny)

    by MouseTheLuckyDog ( 2752443 ) on Friday June 26, 2015 @03:14AM (#49992831)

    Yeo. They need to do lots of tests. Lot and lots of tests.
    They are now looking for female vilunteers to help them out.

  • "Win Prize" (Score:3)

    by Etherwalk ( 681268 ) on Friday June 26, 2015 @03:14AM (#49992833)

    Who cares that they won a prize? They did something useful and nerdy. Can't we just be happy about that? #slashdot

    • Re:"Win Prize" (Score:5, Insightful)

      by AmiMoJo ( 196126 ) on Friday June 26, 2015 @03:31AM (#49992893) Homepage Journal

      It's a bit of an odd prize, because all they did was suggest an idea. No working prototype or anything like that, just "wouldn't it be good if..."

      In fact the idea might be a bit half-bakes because by the time the antibodies have reacted (and BTW how do you keep them alive for months or even years in the packet?) the condom will probably have been discarded. It's also rather anti-social and possibly illegal to perform medical tests on someone without their consent, which seems to be the point of this thing otherwise why not just provide a more traditional testing kit.

      • Actually that's good. Now I get to develop a competing product. Of course I will need to do a lot of testing. At least, that's my story and I'm sticking it.

        I know I'm milking it, but if at first you don't suceed ,,,

      • the idea might be a bit half-baked

        imho, it's not a bit half-baked, it's all the way...*this idea is awful*

        my first thought was, in order to detect on females you have to have intercourse first, which kind of defeats the purpose...also, checking the color (i can just see the antics w/ attempting to use a cell phone light...) is also going to be more awkward than any of the alternatives

        these ideas never leave the concept stage

        if something like a condom can indicate this, just make a test swab or something...it's already awkward having to stop

        • Firstly, the condom will not only work on females it will also work on males as well. So the woman will also be able to request that the man wear the condom she has in her purse just in case she gets lucky.

          Secondly, you were still going to have sex with her/him without the STD detecting condom, right? Now, if the condom changes colour, after you had sex, you can still visit your doctor or local STD clinic for treatment the next day without waiting until your next test and thus help reduce the spread of

        • The idea is great. Currently someone has to go to a clinic, have a test administered, then wait a couple of weeks for the results. With this condom, you can get an early indication of... issues. For me, if it changed color, that would be a good indication that I will never have unprotected sex with this person and would know to disconsider them as a long-term partner.

          Really, your post gives the impression that you don't know much about how sexual relations work. Using a condom with someone who potentially
          • The concept is "not bad" if you ignore that it's pretty much impossible to create. Here's a list of other things that would be "not bad": * Toaster with telepathic user interface (can read your mind how brown you want your toast) * Cows that raise and butcher other cows and deliver the steaks to us (saves a lot of work) * Car that does not use any fuel or energy (very cheap and easy to travel around) * A computer that is as powerful as I want it to be (does not have to upgrade for new games etc.)

            • Why is it impossible? I am genuinely asking as I do not know enough about the technologies involved.

              Wouldn't pregnancy testing kits fit into the same category if someone suggested the possibility of one 100 years ago?

              As for your other examples, they are just strawmen since they in no way refute the original premise of producing a condom to detect STDs

          • Really, your post gives the impression that you don't know much about how sexual relations work.

            If you know someone is clean, you don't need to be dealing with condoms in the first place.

            • Re: (Score:2)

              by dcw3 ( 649211 )

              If you know someone is clean, you don't need to be dealing with condoms in the first place.

              Seriously? And you'd know this how? I only ask be cause I once thought my ex-wife was clean.

          • Re: (Score:2)

            by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

            Really, your post gives the impression that you don't know much about how sexual relations work. Using a condom with someone who potentially has an STD does not "defeat the purpose", it is the purpose. It allows you to have sex with someone whose infection status you're unsure of, without getting the infection. If you know someone is clean, you don't need to be dealing with condoms in the first place.

            Your "quote marks" are around something I never actually said. I don't know if you just confused me with someone else or didn't read my post properly, but anyway...

            Giving your partner a covert medical test in this way is likely to be illegal in many jurisdictions. If you feel the need to perform such tests on every new partner, your relationships are unlikely to last.

        • the idea might be a bit half-baked

          imho, it's not a bit half-baked, it's all the way...

          Come on, as nerds, we should try to be more accurate. Is it a quarter-baked, or maybe 10%-baked? Could it be 80%-baked?

        • the idea might be a bit half-baked

          imho, it's not a bit half-baked, it's all the way...*this idea is awful*

          my first thought was, in order to detect on females you have to have intercourse first, which kind of defeats the purpose...

          It only serves no purpose if you never intend sleeping with this person again. If you want to play around a little more next time with this person, this condom absolutely serves a purpose.

        • my first thought was, in order to detect on females you have to have intercourse first

          Yes, but with a condom.

          So, your choice ... after you've had sex with someone new, and you see that it's turned a nasty color ... you can say "wow, you should really get checked out" ... or you have sex without a condom, and then in a few weeks you're thinking "hmmm, that's not right".

          Given the choice of knowing what you just got yourself into, and having absolutely no idea, this is a damned sight better.

          People have gotten

      • and BTW how do you keep them alive for months or even years in the packet?

        You don't, they aren't alive to start with.

      • But the process that they followed is well-proven (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0326856/), just work on the idea, or as it is known "the actual invention" and then pass the rest off to the science guys to sort out.

      • possibly illegal to perform medical tests on someone without their consent

        Well, here's another way for a male to do a medical test on a female for STD's - stick your dick in her and see if you get a disease.

        Here's something else that's illegal: tell somebody you don't have herpes and then have unprotected sex with them. Or tell them you're on the pill and then have unprotected sex to "land" them. Or just grab the used condom out of the trash while he's in the bathroom and cram it up in there - "oops, must

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by jdavidb ( 449077 )

        It's also rather anti-social and possibly illegal to perform medical tests on someone without their consent

        Ordinarily I'd agree, but if you're about to have sex with me, I think that gives me more rights to information about you than the average citizen out there. If you're uncomfortable with what I might be putting in that condom, then we could always just not have sex.

      • It's a bit of an odd prize, because all they did was suggest an idea. No working prototype or anything like that, just "wouldn't it be good if..."

        Courtesy of The Big Bang Theory....

        Leonard: Jimmy, I'm kind of curious why you wanted to see me.
        Jimmy: Okay, here it is. I have this great money-making idea. I just need a gear head to get it to the finish line.
        Leonard: What's the idea?
        Jimmy: This is just between us, right?
        Leonard: Right.
        Jimmy: Okay. What do you think about a pair of glasses that makes any m

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by dbIII ( 701233 )
      Cool idea, but ...

      The boys said they still have to test the science

      Which is OK for a student competition because it doesn't have to be remotely possible, but it's not as such useful or even nerdy so I'm not really sure why it's ended up on this site. Nerdy would be to see if it's remotely possible first and then run with it instead of just declaring a wish.

    • Re:"Win Prize" (Score:5, Insightful)

      by mwvdlee ( 775178 ) on Friday June 26, 2015 @10:11AM (#49994559) Homepage

      If only I had sent in my concept of a condom that miraculously kills all those diseases and also HIV, cancer and the common cold, I would have won.

      There is nothing useful or nerdy here.
      Neither the product nor any of it's features are currently possible.
      There is no invention, no science, no ingenuity here, just an idea.

      Ideas are a dime a dozen, it's being able to implement those ideas that matters.

  • Add one more colour (Score:4, Funny)

    by vikingpower ( 768921 ) on Friday June 26, 2015 @03:20AM (#49992849) Homepage Journal
    Red for stupidity.

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by Anonymous Coward

      Eww, not Red.

      Anything but Red.

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by Anonymous Coward

      *Puts it on, turns red immediately* "Shit."

    • Red for stupidity.

      thank you for capturing my thoughts on this so succinctly...

      it's an **awful idea**

  • Haven't actually invented anything (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 26, 2015 @03:26AM (#49992867)

    Just to be clear, they haven't invented jack shit. It's just a "concept". These three kids made a presentation of "Wouldn't it be great if..." and won a prize. It isn't science, it's creative writing.

    • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

      by Anonymous Coward

      All professional jealousy aside, though, Da Vinci is often credited with "inventing" the helicopter, submarine, etc. Sometimes "just a concept" counts as an invention.

      • Re:Haven't actually invented anything (Score:4, Insightful)

        by rodrigoandrade ( 713371 ) on Friday June 26, 2015 @07:46AM (#49993621)
        "Just a concept" are a dime a dozen. It's the execution that counts.

      • No, it doesn't. Anyone who has actually developed a product (or tried to) will tell you this. It has nothing to do with professional jealousy, and a lot to do with professional realism from spending time doing this sort of thing. The idea is the easy part. As others have said, why not a condom that cures STDs? I mean, hey, if all we need is the idea, right? How about one that cures any disease? Better yet, how about an app you can run on your Apple watch that cures all disease for anybody in the room

  • Ideas are a dime a dozen. (Score:1)

    by Anonymous Coward

    > for their idea to use antibodies to create color-changing condoms to recognize STDs. They say the material, which is still in the concept stage
    > The boys said they still have to test the science and feasibility of their idea.

    So in other words, they've done nothing. Ideas are a dime a dozen.

  • If you're wearing a condom are you not protected from these diseases. I think a disease detector would be more efficient if it's like the HIV detector that works like a pregnancy detector (only with blood). The colored condoms might cause people to want a certain disease (even though they can already get colored condoms).
  • Well, at least now there's a "good" reason to carry around a selfie stick.

  • Since when... (Score:1)

    by Anonymous Coward

    ... are the brain farts of schoolkids newsworthy? (I know, I know, I'm on /., yada yada)

    There is no reason to believe this is even feasible. Sure, it fits the "wouldn't it be nice"-category and provides us all with an opportunity to talk about stuff we like to talk about and for clickbait we like to click.

    Read this, for example "No, teenagers did not invent STI-detecting color-changing condoms [hopesandfears.com]".

  • False Positives? (Score:4, Funny)

    by darkain ( 749283 ) on Friday June 26, 2015 @04:10AM (#49993003) Homepage

    Yeah, the science hasn't even been tested yet... So, what is this, just hopeful, wishful thinking? What is the false positive rate? More importantly, what other chemicals trigger a false positive?

    Remember that "date rape testing fingernail polish" that went super viral? Awesome in theory, horrible in practice. Milk causes a false positive with it. How many drinks nowadays contain some form of milk? Rumchata and White Russians both come to mind instantly. [in before "in soviet russia" joke]

  • So as I gather from most stories around the net, this is nothing more than just an Idea, it doesn't even have a crude prototype...
    And in that case, I'd rather suggest some sort of a stick (like for testing pregnancy) to test if you have a STD.. And if I use a condom, then I really don't care if the other has a STD (well at least not one that transmits through intercourse), that's what's the condom is for (next to birthcontrol)...

  • Turns cyan if the person cheated with Jack, and magenta if the person cheated with John.

  • First, so far this is just an idea. Zero development of the detection chemistry has been performed. But hey, at least they have already decided on their indicator color scheme!

    Second, the concept requires that the antibodies, coloring agents and supporting chemicals come into direct bodily contact with (mucous) skin. That is very different from normal medicinal tests where you scrape off or otherwise obtain test material and then add additional chemicals far away from your body in a test tube. The FDA will

  • Perhaps it's for men to see if the women are infected after they have sex. But really the detection should be on the inside of the condom so the woman can see if the man has an STD before the sex.

  • the so-what-does-plaid-mean dept. (Score:1)

    by Anonymous Coward

    from the so-what-does-plaid-mean dept.

    It means 'ludicrous speed' :(

  • Ummmm.... if it turns brown, what does *that* indicate??

    Back in my day we used to say "If it smells like cologne, leave it alone, if it smells like fish, make it a dish". Now get off my lawn with your fancy schmancy color changing condoms!

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by Anonymous Coward

      Brown means "Wrong Hole"

  • Huh? This doesn't make sense (Score:5, Insightful)

    by argStyopa ( 232550 ) on Friday June 26, 2015 @07:43AM (#49993605) Journal

    "This material, which is still in the concept stage..."

    That's ridiculous. How is this different than sitting around bullshitting with your friends about how cool it would be to have flying cars? "Wouldn't it be cool if you had a condom that changed color when an std was present?"

    And hey, look at that, they've already picked the colors!

    This is absurd for so many reasons.
    1) as most people familiar with condoms would recognize, when a condom's in full use it's quite frequently dark and/or not exactly exposed to where you can see it.
    2) I'm not really interested in using my dong as the dipstick, no matter what it's sheathed in. I'd really rather know the STD status *before* the dick goes in
    3) considering the really rather astonishing materials science behind the construction of condoms, it's not like one can easily mix in additives - anything that's going to be part of the latex but isn't directly contributing to strength is going to be a weakness. And what are its ongoing effects on the latex over the long shelf-life and sometimes difficult storage conditions (ie wallet for far too long)? You going to use such a condom if the failure rate is 2x-3x that of normal condoms?
    4) the "magic" substance that changes colors in the presence of an STD has YET TO BE INVENTED.

    Christ.

    • "1) as most people familiar with condoms would recognize, when a condom's in full use it's quite frequently dark and/or not exactly exposed to where you can see it."

      BOOM - my invention is to make the colors glow in the dark. Hold on while I call my patent lawyer...

  • The condom:
    -- Turns blue if both partners are democrat, red if both republican, confederate flag pattern if either partner is racist.
    -- Displays outdoors and "indoors" temperature.
    -- Plays recorded "Echo....echo...echo" audio at the point of entry.
    -- Sounds alarm if she is a he, or he is a she.

  • green for chlamydia, yellow for herpes, purple for HPV, and blue for syphilis

  • They should start small and do a condom that is also a pregnancy test.

  • inside or out (Score:3)

    by Punko ( 784684 ) on Friday June 26, 2015 @11:00AM (#49994943)
    Is the colour meant to display for the condition of the wearer (which could be a display in advance of coitus) or for the condition of the partner (which is a display after coitus)?

    Folks seem to be focusing on the partner's condition here. I think this idea would be far more valuable to the partner. Here put this on and we'll - hang on - blue plus yellow means clamidia and the clap - sorry fella - no joy for you. Warning of impending risk is far better than - hey wow, she's was really loaded up with bugs.

    A raincoat will keep you dry in the rain, checking the weather may keep you from going out in the rain in the first place.

  • Big time. Don't you see? "Hey, I'm working on my senior project and well I was wondering if you could help me out. I just need..."

    Get it? "Students" This is just a scam to get laid! Saw it coming a mile away!

  • If you turn it inside out do you get a different rainbow? Students create Everlasting Cockblocker...

  • but I submitted the story because I knew the comments would be gold. Like, "taste the rainbow".

    I'm kind of surprised at how liberally my submission was altered, though. I see a lot of boneheaded mistakes in the summaries here, now I wonder how many come from the editors.

  • Wah! Wah! Testing is too hard. Fuck that.

  • Why colors? I would like one that turns to strawberry flavor for $STD.

  • huh? (Score:2)

    by Nyall ( 646782 )

    This makes about as much sense as giving Popular Mechanics a lifetime achievement award for their invention of the flying car.

    I know I'm late to the bash party. And yeah, every once in a while a kiddy award for an idea gets onto slashdot. http://hardware.slashdot.org/s... [slashdot.org]

  • Skipping all the questions about whether this is possible, or inspired by "rainbow parties", or whatever....

    STDs tend to be spread by unprotected sex. A condom isn't a guarantee, but in general somebody who uses condoms regularly is going to taking a lot less risk. This means it would be targeted at people who don't need it nearly as bad as the people who wouldn't use it anyway.

  • I liked this analysis http://www.forbes.com/sites/ta... [forbes.com]

    Tl; dr: it might work for some STDs but it would make the condom quite a bit thicker, and take too long for the result. For others, it's just not going to happen. Then, assuming the magic work, there's lots of reasons it's a bad idea, mostly having to do with the fact that there are people involved.

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