Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

I am developing a prototype of a non-invasive and inexpensive test Zika virus through chemical reactions between the virus and the antigen. Is there any alternative way to test my project without using these substances or using other substances? Could not develop the experiment and register my project in a fair of Sciences?

Hello Gabiarienne,
Welcome to Science Buddies! Your project sounds very interesting and certainly important. Are you planning to do your experiments in a lab? If you haven't yet made arrangements, perhaps there is a lab in a university near you with researchers who have the expertise and who would be willing to help you set up your experiment without actually using the Zika virus.

Perhaps other experts here on Science Buddies also have suggestions for how to do your experiment with a surrogate!

Hi,

You are correct that you would not be able to do experiments with a human pathogen like Zika virus in your school (posting.php?mode=reply&f=28&t=15853#preview). As Madeline suggested, you would need to find a university research lab and a mentor if you wanted to work on creating a test for the virus. I'm sure there are researchers doing this right now!

What you could do is write up a proposal describing exactly how you plan to make the test work. Are you going to test for the virus itself or assay for antibodies to the virus in the blood? You will have to do a lot of reading of science papers online to understand how this has been done for other viruses and then make your own procedure for Zika virus. We can help you when you get stuck with all the scientific jargon and technical terms.

Does your school require an experiment-based science project? If so then you probably should talk to your teacher before trying this proposal. Writing a research proposal is something all scientists do when they try to get federal funding for a project, but they almost always include some of their own data showing that they can make the project work.

In your proposal you could show that similar tests have been created for other viruses and that they are sensitive and selective, but that's not the same as doing an experiment. Check the rules for your science project and let us know what you want to do.

Sybee

Hi, the project is to Google science fair, my project exists for other diseases and the same method is used, can I make the prototype as if to another disease and explaining what could happen if I put the zika virus?

Hi,

Yes, that is what I meant. But do check with the requirements for a Google science fair project. A proposal alone may not be sufficient with no actual experiments.

A scientist will not believe that a project will work without direct proof. If Google accepts plans based on published data of other researchers then your project is OK. Otherwise, you will either have to find a virology research lab that will take you on as a student researcher or else choose a project where you can do experiments.

Good luck!

Sybee