Overview

Our work in human practices focused on answering two questions: will our diagnostic test responsibly impact the world in a positive way, and if so how can we best tailor our design to the needs of those seeking to use it. To answer these questions, we sought the advice of professionals specializing in paper-based assays and the opinions of those who would feasibly come into contact with the test at each step of the diagnostic process. The insight we gained from these interactions demonstrated that Yeast ID has a high potential to responsibly improve the lives of those suffering from yeast infections. By listening to feedback from these key stakeholders we were also able to identify and correct previously unforeseen problems in assay design, moving us closer to our goal of making as large and positive an impact as possible. Our human practices process consists of six basic steps.

Step 1

Follow up on findings from literature review by investigating diagnosis and treatment processes first hand.

Learning about how current tests are being used and what doctors would prefer to have was important in transforming our assay. We wanted to make sure that our diagnosis test could benefit professionals working.

Who we talked to:

Practicing OBGYN: Dr. Lisa Yang

On any given day, Dr. Lisa Yang could expect to visit with regular patients for checkups, perform surgeries, coach a future mother through labor, and deliver multiple babies. Dr. Yang additionally oversees surgeries and tests performed by residents in training. Apart from answering our questions pertaining to current diagnostics for yeast infections (see problem page), Dr. Yang described the ideal yeast infection diagnostic. The ideal diagnostic has the following characteristics:

1. Able to produce results in the office without the use of specialized lab equipment
2. Produce a comparable number of false positives and negatives compared to the "gold standard" diagnostic
3. Inexpensive
4. Require minimal training to complete

Step 2

Developing our Paper-Based Assay

Throughout the process of building our paper-based assay, we consulted professionals who helped us change our assay to better fit the needs of healthcare professionals and patients everywhere.

Who we talked to:

Dr. Linnes

Dr. Linnes is an assistant professor in Biomedical Engineering at Purdue University who specializes in developing paper-based assays. She helped our team greatly by providing examples of paper-based assays, identifying important variables in assay design, and allowing our assay designer to use materials and equipment in her lab. Because of her large contribution, it is difficult to narrow down discrete changes she provoked in our design; that being said, we directly implemented her suggestion to have a 3-step maximum on our assay.

Step 3

Learn how to Relay our research to the public

Communicating our research and transporting or assay to the public is important when making our assay more globally accessible.

Who we talked to:

Dr. Cooky

Dr. Cooky is an associate professor of American Studies and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Purdue University. During our project she helped us in focusing in on how we can help the general public understand our research. She also brought to light that yeast infections are “a relatively minor medical issue that creates a disproportionate impact on women’s lives.”

Throughout our talk with her she brought to our attention:

1. How the youth is getting educated on sexual health and what their programs entail
2. Whether or not sexual health education programs are teach about infections like vulvovaginal candidiasis
3. Different misconceptions that surround women’s health and the implications of what going to get treatment for infections like vulvovaginal candidiasis entail
4. How different cultures view women’s health and the challenges women face in obtaining a test and getting treatment
5. Make sure our test is something women could do by themselves by keeping it simple and accessible
6. Consider a global reach with our test

Dr. Clase

Dr. Clase is the director of the Biotechnology Innovation and Regulatory Science Center and also a professor in Agricultural and Biological Engineering as well as Technology Leadership and Innovation. She works extensively with building programs to help secure access to medicine in Africa and developing nations. Dr. Clase helped us by answering questions about bringing our assay to the global market. From talking with her she answered our questions about international healthcare and suggested we find out how people learn about healthcare and where people go if there is no doctor or nurse.

Integrated HP:

Step 4

Changing our detection method based on the conversations with professionals

Originally we designed our assay with as many steps as necessary in order to gain the best results with the least amount of factors to account for. However, based on our talk Dr. Linnes who shed light on a method of a three step application system that users prefer. Due to this discovery, we modified our assay to fit within the three step application suggestion.

Step 5

Assess public knowledge through survey

A major part of our research was finding a way to make the assay more user-friendly than current brands. In order to do so we conducted an IRB survey that used Amazon Mechanical Turk that helped us receive feedback from a diverse demographic range.

Step 6

Public Engagement

We had the opportunity to work with Purdue University Libraries in creating an event called DIYBio and Maker, where we educated the Purdue community about synthetic biology and our project. During the event we interacted with students and shed light on the importance of synthetic biology and the implications of our research. Over the summer, we assisted in creating an escape room for high schoolers interested in synthetic biology. Before the high schoolers arrived, we went through the escape room and helped ensure that it was not too difficult and hard to understand. We also helped oversee the event to make sure everything ran smoothly.

Collaboration

A major part of our research was finding a way to make the assay more user-friendly than current brands. In order to do so we conducted an IRB survey that used Amazon Mechanical Turk that helped us receive feedback from a diverse demographic range.