![]() ![]() These are pretty harsh conditions for antibodies, which have evolved to work largely within the bloodstream, with its almost neutral pH of about 7.4. The citric acid in orange juice, phosphoric acid in cola and malic acid in apple juice give these beverages a pH between 2.5 and 4. A range of fluids, from fruit juice to cola, have been used to fool the tests, but they all have one thing in common - they are highly acidic. When you do a test, you mix your sample with a liquid buffer solution, ensuring the sample stays at an optimum pH, before dripping it on the strip.Ī much more likely explanation is that something in the drinks is affecting the function of the antibodies. They are also attached to gold nanoparticles (tiny particles of gold actually appear red), which allow us to see where the antibodies are on the device. Absorbed to the red pad are antibodies that bind to the COVID-19 virus. If you open up an LFT device, you’ll find a strip of paper-like material, called nitrocellulose, and a small red pad, hidden under the plastic casing below the T-line. It’s worth understanding how the tests work. Sure enough, a few minutes later, two lines appeared on each test, supposedly indicating the presence of the virus that causes Covid-19. Is it time to end Covid isolation for schoolchildren?įirst, I thought it best to check the claims, so I cracked open bottles of cola and orange juice, then deposited a few drops directly onto LFTs. ![]() The differences between PCR and lateral flow Covid tests.Lateral flow tests: how accurate are they?. ![]()
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