Diagnosing Crohn’s Disease at home with Stool and Blood
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A solution to the 10 million and more cases of IBD worldwide
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Executive Summary
PROBLEM
SOLUTION
IMPACT
The cases of Crohn’s disease are rising, which means more individuals require a diagnosis and monitoring of their conditions. However, treatment is expensive. For example, it could cost $30,000 a year! As a result, it is necessary to cut the costs of testing while being efficient, rapid, and accurate.
A Crohn's reusable at-home test kit that uses the least amount of materials possible could save lives by allowing proper diagnostics and monitoring while being cost-effective. In addition, the test kit would also be rapid and accurate for urgent results.
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Crohn’s at a Glance
1/100 Americans are diagnosed with Crohn’s
Usually diagnosed in young adults between 15-35 years old
When both parents have it, the risk for their children to get it is 35%
Ages 15-35
35%
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Associated Medical Expenses
Direct medical costs were $18,022-$18,932 per patient per year in the U.S.
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Human Perspective Interview
It takes time to receive results from samples, so it would be great if there is a kit that gives results rapidly since it would save time and help doctors monitor their patients’ conditions.
“I hope there is a whole stool kit that gives you the results right away.”
- Dr. Heney Chun, gastroenterologist at Kaiser Permanente
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Human Perspective Interview
Everything can be done at home nowadays. As a result, it is possible to do at-home testing, but you would need the right materials to perform it at home.
“Yes, I think it could be done.”
- Iqbal Naiyer, a patient with ulcerative colitis
By using less materials, there is a possibility that at-home tests can be more cost-effective and accessible to those with Crohn’s or diseases similar to it.
“If they're doing a drop of blood from a person's finger or they're doing a scoop of poop, there's no way one cost is not going to be more or less than the other, essentially because you have these little vials or these little materials and you have a mail package and just mailing, it's probably 75% of the cost. “ - Jeff McDonald, a patient with Crohn’s Disease
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Problem
More people need a way to diagnose and monitor their symptoms as Crohn's disease cases rise for a variety of reasons, such as smoking, genetics, etc. According to the EFCCA, there are 10 million people worldwide living with IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease), the broad term for Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis. As a result, there must be a way to properly diagnose and monitor Crohn’s, while being cost-effective, rapid, and accurate.
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Our solution: How it works
Our solution provides a two-step approach for cost-effective, efficient, and accurate at-home diagnosis for Crohn's. The patient will receive instructions and materials to provide stool samples and blood samples, both of which will show indicators of whether or not Crohn’s is present in the body.
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Steps to At-home Diagnosis
Following the instructions, you collect your stool and blood sample at home.
Kit arrives at your residence, instructions provided.
Consulting with a medical professional
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The Role of Staff
Minimalized training required to read and understand samples and procedure to package and mail out kits. Making the role of staff easy and uncomplicated.
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What is Provided?
Kit preparedness
The kit comes fully prepared and easy to use.
Instructions
Easy-to-understand instructions with a step-by-step guide on sampling procedures including how to take your samples, and how to interpret results.
Blood and stool sample kits
Kit includes two sanitary simple blood and stool kids for diagnosis. Instructions take the patient through how to utilize them.
Pamphlet
Once results are rapidly present, the patient has access to a pamphlet on different paths they could take following diagnosis, whether that be consulting with a doctor online, or going into a clinic for treatment.
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Equipment
Here are some of the materials that would need to be provided in order to have a complete kit:
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Packaging: shipping box
Shipping label
Stool sample
Blood test sample
Pamphlet
Instruction card
An example of what the kit could look like
Item Qty.
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Kit Expense
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Packaging
$2-3 USD
Pamphlet + Instruction paper
$2 USD
Blood test sample kit
$40 USD
Stool sample kit
$20 USD
Packaging
Pamphlet + Instruction paper
Stool sample kit
Blood test sample kit
*All prices have been calculated before taxes, other expenses, etc.*
Total: $65 USD
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After Testing, What is Next?
Our two-stepped approach provides different paths after diagnosis.
One positive, one negative
If one of your tests are positive, and one is negative, that could be a sign of a testing error or a slight sign of the presence of Crohn’s.
Both tests are positive
This is a strong indicator that Crohn’s is present in your body. In this case, the patient is recommended to contact a healthcare professional for next steps. If Crohn’s is confirmed, they may start treatment.
Both negative
If both tests are negative, there are strong indicators that Crohn's disease is not present in your body, However, if symptoms persist, you should contact a medical professional.
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Why is Our Solution the Best One?
Easy
Tests arrive straight to your door with instructions provided. This leaves little room for complication and confusion.
Two Tests in One Kit
By including two tests in a single at-home testing kit, we are eliminating the worries of true positive or false negative test results.
Accuracy
Stool and blood tests are one of the most common and accurate tests that can be done at-home unlike alternatives like colonoscopy and endoscopy.
We reduce the cost of the people that spend unwanted money and make our target audience to wait less for the results. In addition, the stool test has an accuracy of 80% while the blood test has an accuracy of about 20%. As a result, using both tests will eliminate the worries of a true positive or false negative. The tests are also easy to use, making patient experience clear and not confusing.
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The Goal
Our goal is to increase users of Crohn’s disease device that is effective but even portable and low-cost, suitable for all users. Making this device easy to navigate and to use where the test comes back to analyze Crohn disease. It is also portable and reusable so you can test it anytime and anywhere.
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Our realistic outcome by 2028
By 2028, we would like to achieve a milestone of treating and helping 70,000 patients with Crohn’s or who might have Crohn’s. In addition, we would like to sell 100,000 at-home testing kits. Finally, we want to donate 10,000 at-home test kits to those who are in need but can’t afford the kit.
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Timeline
2024
Planning at-home kits
Brainstorming and planning the Crohn’s at-home testing kits
Building prototypes of the kits/Begin testing
Building prototypes for our Crohn’s at-home testing kits. Also, testing the kits on selected individuals.
2025
2026
Launch the kits domestically
Before launching it worldwide, it is better to launch it domestically to understand the target audience.
2027
Begin launching the kits internationally
After a year, the kits would start to be launched internationally for more impact towards the world.
2028
Partnerships
As there are more customers and patients, it is a good idea to partner with fellow companies for a larger expansion and networks.
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Potential partner companies
Biostarks
A company that focuses on preventative health and wellness. They also sell sports performance, nutrition, and longevity at-home biomarker tests
Everlywell
A shark tank company that also focuses on wellness and health also. Their tests are also at-home and uses similar ways to collect samples
Lab.Me
A company that focuses on health. They sell a variety of at-home tests that specialize in testing for certain health issues or nutrient deficiencies. For their at-home biomarker tests, they use blood, saliva, and urine.
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What we need from Switch Health
Switch Health can help us with our solution by providing funds and support to create the new at-home test kit. As a result, this will benefit patients with Crohn’s or who might have Crohn’s.
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OUR TEAM
Kwabena McRae
Skylar Liu
Lead Contributor
Co-Contributor
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Thank you so much for allowing us to make a proposal for our solution that benefits the lives of current and future Crohn’s patients. We have improved as a group as we learned different solutions to solve the problem, so thank you. If there are any questions or concerns feel free to contact us!
Sincerely, Myra, Skylar, and Kwabena
Thank you, Switch Health!
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