ByeStrep! VentureWell E-Team Grant Program Stage 1

ByeStrep is a device for individuals to diagnose strep throat at home with the ability to video conference with a clinician. Untreated strep throat can lead to a disease called rheumatic fever with subsequent cardiac valve complications. The diagnosis of Group A Streptococcus (GAS) requires a healthcare visit where patients experience uncomfortable throat swabs which usually are processed by a rapid-detection antigen kit that takes 5-10 minutes. Rapid-test kits, currently marketed for clinical use only, consist of a complex chemistry set to determine the presence of GAS. The other option is a throat culture which takes at least 48 hours to result. If positive, clinicians will prescribe antibiotics with patients feeling better within days. If negative, over the counter (OTC) medication will mitigate the symptoms. (See internal documents for draft Proposal Narrative for more details).