SCIENCE
Microengineering meets microbiology
The Senora test sticker uses microengineering to create a mesh of thousands of microcells, each lined with a highly effective growing medium that promotes the growth of bacteria and enhances their colour to make them visible to the naked eye in under eight hours.
WHAT WE MEASURE
Measuring by Gram stain
The growing medium in each microcell promotes bacterial growth and depending on whether the bacteria present are Gram-positive or Gram-negative, the colour of the test (i.e., Gram stain) will change to either purple or pink, respectively. The type of bacteria present is indicated by the colour of the test, making it possible to evaluate the dominant bacterial flora (e.g., normal Gram-positive bacilli or abnormal Gram-negative coccobacilli and rods). Gram-positive bacilli, primarily lactobacilli, make up the majority of the normal vaginal flora. Although fungi stain Gram-positive, women with positive Candida cultures typically have negative Gram stains.
HI TECH
Microcells and effective growing medium
Using microengineering, we created a microbial culture chip that contains thousands of microcells with a growing medium that allows the sticker to quickly and effectively grow bacteria while being safely sealed from the outside world. The warmth inside the underwear is perfect for performing a Gram stain analysis using our approach.
