HP’s Ellie Chong develops early detection method for post-operative infections
A Highland Park High School freshman has found a way to detect the most prevalent and expensive type of hospital-acquired infection before symptoms begin. And her method only costs about 40 cents.
Ellie Chong won first place in the Biomedical and Health Sciences category at the Texas Science and Engineering Fair for her project, along with the $1,000 Wayne Squires Prize. She was also selected to participate in the International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles in May.
Chong developed a gel that can be applied to surgical sites under a bandage. If a site shows symptoms of infection, the gel will turn blue before those symptoms occur.
Chong’s project works because infected sites become less acidic before symptoms appear. Its gel uses a dye that changes color as the acidity of the solutions varies. Chong’s other ingredients include gelatin, an important ingredient in gelatin.
Chong said he has seen applications for his project from hospitals in Dallas, as well as in more isolated areas where doctors can perform surgeries during medical mission trips. Patients in rural areas without ready access to medical care could use the gel to monitor their wounds at home.
“This is a quick and easy read and can be used by anyone, which is really great,” she said. “As it only requires a simple visual inspection, it requires no prior knowledge or training.”
Chong said he experimented with other gel ingredients before deciding on gelatin. She tried the best-selling collagen supplement, which didn’t change color, and the vegetarian gelatin substitute agar-agar, which broke down due to its grainy texture.
She also had to test different concentrations of her materials. Too little gelatin caused the gel to be runny, while too much gelatin caused the gel to become brittle and break.
Chong credited her science teachers at Highland Park High School for helping answer her questions and support her project and said she was also grateful to her parents for their support.
“I would love for other students interested in science to be able to do this because I think it’s a great opportunity to meet other students interested in STEM,” she said, “and also just to pursue something you enjoy.” I’m interested.”
