Non-Profit Foundation, Test It Develops Home STD Test Kit, Tests for 6 Major STDs, Plans to Distribute to Third World Nations
Vancouver, WA (PRWEB) December 04, 2013 -- Test It Foundation is now developing technology from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to create an easy-to-use STD testing kit, capable of diagnosing six major sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). It can screen for HIV, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Herpes Simplex, Bacterial Vaginosis and Trichomoniasis, all from one kit.
Test It Foundation's home STD testing kit will work in the same way as an over-the-counter pregnancy test, using a urine sample that shows a clear reaction if STDs are present. The STD test kit is projected to cost under $50. Once developed, the kit should be available in major drugstores, where it can be easily and discreetly purchased.
During the Indiegogo Crowdfunding campaign, for $55.00, Test It Foundation will send one test to a developing or third world country for every test that is purchased in the United States, Canada, Western Europe, England and Australia. Test It Foundation is working towards partnering with other nonprofit medical relief organizations that are presently working in third world and developing countries and plans on using them for logistics and distribution of the test.
“Our goals in developing this product are not to just market it to the US in the Over-The-Counter markets, but to distribute this technology to third-world and developing countries where healthcare is not readily available,” says Director, Jarrett LeClaire.
Test It Foundation decided to use crowdfunding in their efforts to raise capital, and Indiegogo in particular because they have supported efforts in both the science and health field as well as for philanthropic endeavors. A crowfunding campaign was the best option for Test It Foundation, because it will enable them to develop the product and distribute it either free of charge or at a reduced cost to the area’s of the world that are underserved medically. Test It Foundation is planning on starting their crowdfunding campaign on Tuesday December 3rd. The initial amount they are trying to raise will be $75,000. This money will be used to develop a prototype and start first round testing.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US reported over 1.6 million STD cases in 2009. This number is likely only a fraction of the total as many infections go unreported and undiagnosed. Estimates suggest there are 1.9 million new cases every year, costing the US healthcare system $16.4 billion. A simple and affordable home testing kit will provide a convenient way to obtain instant results and will allow every sexually active adult to test themselves regularly.
“Many people avoid STD screening due to their embarrassment or the expense. As a result, the incidence of some infections has grown exponentially because people who are unaware of their infection inadvertently infect their sexual partners,” says Jarrett LeClaire, Director and Founder of Test It Foundation.
Test It Foundation was developed by Jarrett LeClaire through the work of Malignext Targeting Technologies. Malignext is a company he formed after his wife Ilene was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy to remove the cancer. The mastectomy was not successful because a clear or negative margin was not obtained from around her tumor. Jarrett was informed that up to 35% of these small and/or nonpalpable tumors required a second and sometimes third surgery to completely remove the tumor. Jarrett partnered with a surgeon and set about developing a way to mark these tumors and make them palpable as well visible so that the re-excision rate would drop significantly. After doing research at Texas A&M university through the Bio-Medical engineering school and funding research at Washington State University, Malignext won a grant through the TAP (Technology Assistance Program) at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory at Richland, Washington.
Jarrett was made aware that the national laboratory system had existing technologies and were looking for entrepreneurs to further develop them. Jarrett contacted the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory about an unrelated technology and was made aware of the STD testing technology that would become Test IT Foundation. After some research about the technology and how many people it positively affect, Jarrett decided to go all in and develop the technology so that it would be available in the US, but also make a
massive positive impact for people that are not able to readily get medical care or service.
Test It! Foundation can be reached at http://testitstdkit.com as well as on Facebook at Test It STD kit and on Twitter.
If you would like to support Test It Foundation with their IndieGoGo campaign you can by accessing the following link: IndieGoGo Campaign
Media Contact Information:
Jarrett LeClaire
Director
Test It Foundation.
info(at)testitstdkit(dot)com
360-907-2631
Jarrett LeClaire, Test It Foundation, +1 (360) 907-2631, [email protected]
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