HERA: A Novel Low-cost Colorimetric Urine-Based Diagnostic Strip for EarlyDetection of HELLP Syndrome and Preeclampsia

“To care for those who once cared for us is one of the highest honors.” – Tia Walker

The Spark

The inspiration for this project arose during the rural immersion program, when I met a woman at the Mahila Sangam who shared that one of her babies had died in her womb because her preeclampsia had gone undetected. Her quiet grief revealed a wider systemic failure in maternal healthcare. I realized how preventable conditions often become fatal simply because diagnostic tools and awareness are out of reach for many rural women.

That moment transformed my understanding of healthcare inequity from an abstract issue into a deeply human one. This project aims to explore practical, affordable diagnostic solutions that can help close this gap, ensuring that early detection and timely intervention are not privileges but accessible rights for every expectant mother.

Understanding the Problem

During the rural immersion program, I spent time observing and speaking with women at the Mahila Sangam, as well as local health(ASHA) workers. I learned that while many women regularly attend antenatal checkups, diagnostic tests for conditions like preeclampsia are often unavailable or delayed due to lack of equipment, trained personnel, or awareness.

Several women described symptoms such as headaches or swelling but did

not recognize them as warning signs. Health(ASHA)workers, too, expressed frustration at their inability to detect complications early without proper tools. These conversations revealed how gaps in technology, communication, and accessibility intersect to endanger maternal health.

Witnessing these challenges firsthand helped me understand that the issue

is not just medical—it is demographical and also social.

Developing the Idea

The idea evolved from a desire to address the diagnostic gap in detecting preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome in low-resource settings. Initially, I explored complex, instrument-dependent diagnostic platforms, but discussions with mentors and maternal health experts highlighted the need for simplicity, affordability, and usability in rural contexts.

This feedback redirected my focus toward paper-based microfluidics, enabling a

power-free, urine-based strip for rapid biomarker detection. Through iterative prototyping and laboratory validation using simulated samples, I refined the design to integrate three colorimetric assays—proteinuria, bilirubin, and misfolded proteins—within a single device.

Input from mentors emphasized the importance of reagent stability and ease of interpretation for frontline health workers, shaping HERA into a low-cost, shelf-stable, and scalable diagnostic tool that empowers early maternal risk screening.

The Prototype

The final prototype, HERA, is a paper-based microfluidic diagnostic strip designed for early detection of preeclampsia (PE) and HELLP syndrome in low-resource settings. The strip integrates three colorimetric assays—detecting proteinuria, bilirubin, and misfolded proteins—within a single urine sample.

Each analyte triggers a distinct color change, allowing frontline health workers to visually assess risk within minutes, without laboratory support or electricity. Using capillary-driven flow and shelf-stable reagents, HERA provides a semi-quantitative, power-free, and low-cost diagnostic solution costing approximately $0.023 per strip.

It enables rapid, point-of-care screening during antenatal visits, helping identify at-risk pregnancies earlier and facilitating timely referral for clinical care. By combining accessibility, affordability, and ease of use, HERA represents a step toward equitable maternal healthcare and supports global efforts to reduce maternal mortality.

Reflection

This project taught me that meaningful innovation starts with listening and understanding the people it is meant to help. I realized that solving maternal health challenges is not just about technical skills, but about recognizing the limitations and realities of low-resource settings.

One challenge was designing a diagnostic strip that was both accurate and simple

enough for frontline workers to use; I overcame this by seeking feedback from mentors and health workers and being willing to revise my ideas multiple times. I also learned the importance of patience, persistence, and collaboration, and that even small improvements can make a real difference in people’s lives.

Most importantly, this project reminded me that science is most valuable when it serves others, and that there is always more to learn from the communities we aim to support.

Looking Ahead: The Next Step

The next step for HERA is clinical testing with real patient samples to validate its

effectiveness and reliability in diverse rural settings. I also hope to explore ways to further simplify the design, improve sensitivity, and integrate digital image analysis for better semi-quantitative assessment.

Beyond the prototype, I want to continue learning about maternal health diagnostics and how low-cost innovations can address healthcare inequities. This journey has inspired me to think critically about accessible healthcare solutions and the impact of bridging technology with community needs.

At Keystone International School, students are encouraged to combine scientific knowledge with empathy, real-world research, and problem-solving that truly matters. HERA, a low-cost maternal health diagnostic innovation, exemplifies the school’s commitment to nurturing socially responsible innovators who design solutions that improve lives.

If you want your child to learn in an environment where inquiry meets impact—and where students are empowered to create meaningful change—we invite you to explore our admissions pathway.

Blog written by

Vaishnavi Muppala Raju

Grade: 9-A