Slashdot Mirror
Pee On Your Phone STD Test
Shakrai writes "British health officials are hard at work on a new app that will allow users to pee into their cell phones and find out within minutes if they have an STD. From the article: 'Doctors and technology experts are developing small devices, similar to pregnancy testing kits, that will tell someone quickly and privately if they have caught an infection through sexual contact. People who suspect they have been infected will be able to put urine or saliva on to a computer chip about the size of a USB chip, plug it into their phone or computer and receive a diagnosis within minutes, telling them which, if any, sexually transmitted infection (STI) they have. Seven funders, including the Medical Research Council, have put £4m into developing the technology via a forum called the UK Clinical Research Collaboration.'"
Doesn't take a wizz to see they're going for number one!
Want to know if the skank you brought home is clean? There's an app for that...
Will it automatically tie in with your Facebook account to alert your friends and family? It's a magical world we live in.
At least read the summary:
People who suspect they have been infected will be able to put urine or saliva on to a computer chip about the size of a USB chip, plug it into their phone or computer and receive a diagnosis within minutes, telling them which, if any, sexually transmitted infection (STI) they have.
Bad headline. You aren't peeing on the phone, you're peeing on a slide that contains a chip that you plug into the phone.
My blog
Bad headline
Blame the editors, I used a different headline when I submitted the article.
I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
I don't practice monogamy, I never need condoms, but I still have zero risk of STD.
Not all STDs can be tested for via a urine test, but if average person pee's and detects no infection it may actually give them a false sense of security and thus help increase infection rates of STDs that require blood or other tests.
The above could also lead to a game of "lets pee on the phone *before* we have sex and if we both come up clean then we can ditch the condoms" - yeah that'll help infection rates
Some previous responses have said "People who can afford smart phones are smart enough to use protection". I'll counter with "People who can afford smart phones can also afford alcohol, and alcohol and urgency will decrease protection usage"
Finally what is the false negative rate of this test
I am Slashdot. Are you Slashdot as well?
Blame the editors, I used a different headline when I submitted the article.
Let's not start a pissing match
.
related note: Used HTC Inc for sale. Froyo. Almost like new. almost. Cheap!
-whoa, I'm jones'ing for a sig right about now...
I'm not really sure what the application of this is.
So your results can be transmitted to medical authorities.
When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
I guess they thought it would make a bigger splash.
I'm not really sure what the application of this is.
The summary lists "test yourself" as the main application, but I think the real application will be "test the other person". If it becomes socially acceptable to ask for a saliva sample before having sex, this could put a real dent in STD rates.
Why not simply make a stand-alone STD test that doesn't require a phone.
Because it would cost more.
I mean, it has worked for pregnancy tests for years.
Pregnancy related hormones are far, far more concentrated in the urine than antibodies to STDs.
I'm pretty sure you don't need a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU ...
You don't need 1GHz, but you do need a CPU. Since everyone already has a cellphone, you don't need another CPU to do the analysis or another device to display the result.
"Many are too embarrassed to get tested."
Not "many are too embarrassed to get treated." And in fact, having a "diagnosis" of sorts to share with a doctor as a framework for the discussion will probably help them deal with the embarrassment.
Many people - at widely varying ages - are nervous about discussing things with their doctor, and most of it stems from fear of the unknown. "I have this burning feeling when I pee, but it's probably just irritation, and will go away, no need to bother the doctor about it."
Having a test that's convenient and private means that the people who don't want to bother the doctor with something that's "probably no big deal" can test themselves, and seek treatment if the test is positive; It can also be used by people who are normally "safe" but who experience a broken condom, or a regrettable lapse of judgement.
Arguing that there's no need, market, or benefit to this is stupid. If you had to go to the doctor every time you needed your blood pressure, blood sugar, or other things tested... how many people do you think would be walking around as hypertensive diabetics with advanced atherosclerosis until they keeled over from a massive coronary at age 55? I'm betting it'd be a lot higher if the tools for "home testing" weren't available.
I have an alternate application:
"You're hot."
"Thanks you too.. wanna go back to my room?"
"Sure! But before we do the wild thang, would you mind peeing on my phone? I want to make sure you don't got AIDS."
(slap)
"I'll take that as a 'yes' then...... next!"
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall