The "TB or Not TB" team project was entitled, "An Innovative Gastric Collection Device for Improving South African Pediatric Tuberculosis Diagnosis" The team demonstrated a nickel-sized pill that collects a gastric acid sample from pediatric patients who can’t cough hard enough to provide a viable sample for diagnosis. The technology was designed for the people of South Africa, where tuberculosis is the leading cause of death. Other means of diagnosing young children are invasive, painful and distressing to children. They also cost $81 — an estimated 10 times more than the method the students invented. 

The annual DEBUT Challenge competition is funded by the NIH National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), and VentureWell, a higher education network that cultivates ideas and inventions. All entries are designed to demonstrate a mastery of analytical and design skills and capabilities; the ability to manage the product development process; the ability to work effectively in teams; and written technical communication skills. 

Team members describe the project in this team-produced video. 

Photo: TB or Not TB team members: Amelia Adelsperger, Julia Swartzenberg, Amy Koester, Daniel Romano, and Jordan Addison.