gistfile1.js

function AutoCompleteGetIdValue(elem) {
    var testValue = $(elem).val();
    var id;
    $(elem).data().autocomplete.widget().children(".ui-menu-item").each(function () {
        var item = $(this).data("item.autocomplete")
        if (item.value == testValue) {
            alert(item.id);
            id = item.id;
        }
    });

    return id;
}

the alert displays the correct value but the id on the return line shows "undefined" in my debugger?