Frequently asked questions.
Short answers about SiPR, the methanol detection straw, and what a result does and doesn’t mean.
What is SiPR?
SiPR is a drinking straw being developed to screen alcoholic drinks for methanol. It looks and feels like an ordinary straw, and built-in detection technology gives an instant visual indication, a colour change, if methanol is detected.
How does the SiPR straw work?
You place SiPR in your drink. The contents of the drink travel up a passage in the straw to a reaction chamber, where the detection reaction takes place. If methanol is present, the indicator window changes colour within seconds.
Does SiPR tell me whether my drink is safe?
No. SiPR screens for methanol only. A result does not indicate that a drink is safe to consume, and SiPR does not test for any other substance.
Why is methanol in drinks dangerous?
Methanol is odourless, colourless and indistinguishable from regular alcohol, so it cannot be detected by sight, smell or taste. By the time something feels wrong, it is already too late. Every year, thousands of people unknowingly consume methanol-tainted alcohol.
Where is methanol poisoning most common?
Methanol poisoning happens worldwide. South-East Asia is among the regions most affected, where thousands of cases go undetected or unreported. Roughly 1 in 4 bottles of alcohol sold worldwide is illicit, according to Euromonitor’s 2018 Global Study on Illicit Alcohol.
Is SiPR available to buy?
Not yet. SiPR is in development, with prototype engineering under way and a preliminary patent filed. You can register your interest to receive updates as SiPR moves towards launch.
Who is behind SiPR?
SiPR was founded by Callum Brophy, Founder and CEO, and Dr Sergey Tumanov, Co-founder and Head of R&D. Callum holds a Master of Finance from UNSW. Sergey holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Chemistry and a PhD in Biology from the University of Auckland, and leads the science behind SiPR.
How can I invest in SiPR?
Leave your details on the Invest page and the team will email you to arrange a meeting. The current raise will fund prototype development, IP protection and the pathway towards regulatory approval and commercialisation.
How do I contact SiPR?
Email info@sipr.com.au for general enquiries, partnerships and press, or sign up for updates on the Contact page.