MIT D-Lab is working to solve the world's most critical problems. One of the biggest problems that the world and MIT D-Lab are dealing with is how to ensure that people everywhere drink uncontaminated water. In order to know that the water is safe to drink, people and local authorities all over the world should test the water in order to know if the water needs extra treatment and also if prior water treatment was effective or not.

Prof. Susan Murcott from the D-Lab has been leading this effort for nearly twenty years. As part of solving the world problems, she built a water filter factory in Ghana and helped people in developing countries to drink safe water. One of her key challenges has been to find a reliable E. coli tester for under $1 per test. Frequent testing is the key for reliable water quality anywhere in the world. As water quality changes frequently and in order to be sure that water is safe to drink, it is critical to test frequently. This is the reason why Professor Murcott has invested so much time and efforts into this project - it is clear that in order that as much testing as possible is performed, tests must be cheap - and that's how Prof. Murcott got to Lishtot.

Prof. Murcott found Lishtot online, and we were happy to support her research. The idea that one device can test multiple contaminants in real time was extremely important to her.

The TestDrops was tested in lab conditions in Cambridge, MA for several months and then over 20 units were taken to Nepal for field testing. In Nepal, MIT researchers teamed with local scientists for testing different low-cost E. coli tests. The TestDrop was the only real time E. coli detector, as all the other technologies required 24-48 hour incubations. In addition, the TestDrop was the only technology that detected multiple contaminants and not only E. coli.

We at Lishtot are very encouraged by the results and will continue to work together with our colleagues at MIT in order to make the technology available and useful for people not only in Western countries, but also in countries where local water conditions are more challenging.

For more info you can read the full MIT report Download here.