Did you know that the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs), namely chlamydia and gonorrhoea, are caused by bacteria? Like us humans, bacteria have theirown unique DNA. An STI test detects the presence of the specific DNA of the bacterium in question. However, the amount of bacterial DNA in a sample is very small. Detecting it requires specialised equipment, which is why your sample must be sent to a laboratory for analysis. The results can take days. This is why I am developing a simple STI test that quickly amplifies the tiny amount of bacterial DNA and makes it visible using light-emitting proteins. These are called luciferases. If there are bacteria present in your sample, the luciferase proteins bind to the bacterial DNA, causing the test to turn blue. This way, we create a glow-in-the-dark STI test that does not require a laboratory. Your general practitioner can perform the test themselves, providing you with the results within half an hour.