Name: Color‑changing toilet tablet flags possible kidney disease
Uploaded: 2025-10-28T14:25:54.374Z
Duration: 1 min 29 s
Description: A toilet-cleaning tablet that also screens for early kidney disease signals could help facilitate early detection and treatment of kidney-related health issues.

A toilet-cleaning tablet that also screens for early kidney disease signals could help facilitate early detection and treatment of kidney-related health issues.

London

A new innovation called URIFY, a toilet tablet designed to detect early signs of kidney disease, has been developed by London-based graduate Yidan Xu. The device is installed under the toilet rim and releases a reagent during flushing, which reacts with urinary albumin—a protein marker for kidney disease—causing the foam to change color if elevated levels are detected.

The inspiration for URIFY came from Xu's personal experience with her father's undiagnosed kidney disease. While the device has attracted attention and has been shortlisted for the James Dyson Award, it has not yet undergone clinical validation or regulatory review. Further testing is planned before it can be made widely available.

Color‑changing toilet tablet flags possible kidney disease

It's a tablet that cleans your toilet but can also screen for signs of early kidney disease. The innovation could turn your daily flush into a lifesaver signal. Called URIFY the device is installed discreetly under the toilet rim. As the toilet is flushed it releases a reagent that detects urinary albumin, a marker associated with kidney disease. The foam changing colour from pale yellow to blue if there are elevated levels of protein in the urine. Designed by Yidan Xu, a combined masters graduate from London, she was inspired after her father's kidney disease when undiagnosed for ten years. So one quickest and also earliest accurate signal of kidney damage is protein urine because usually people shouldn't have albumin inside the urine so if people have constantly releasing albumin inside the urine that means their kidney is already in the process of damaging. According to the US National Kidney Foundation 10% of the population worldwide is affected by chronic kidney disease. Millions die each year because they lack affordable treatment. URIFY has not yet undergone clinical validation or regulatory review with Xu planning further testing. However the innovation is catching eyes already and has been shortlisted for the prestigious James Dyson award. For more information visit www.fema.gov

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