Pupils are using FRUIT JUICE to get false positive Covid test results: Schools warn parents to be 'vigilant'

MailOnline ^ | 25 June 2021 | EMER SCULLY

[george76]

Droplets of orange juice can break lateral flow tests and show a positive result ..

Viral videos on TikTok have encouraged children across the UK to try the trend..

Schools have warned parents to be 'vigilant' when their children are tested ..

Pupils have been using fruit juice to get false positive Covid-19 test results as schools warn parents to be 'vigilant'.

When droplets of orange juice or fizzy drinks like coca-cola are placed on a lateral flow test it can produce a positive result because the acidity of the drink destroys the antibody proteins in the test.

And although it does not work every time, viral videos on Tik Tok and Instagram have been encouraging children across the UK to try the trick to get out of going to school.

One video seen by MailOnline was captioned 'fed up of going to school? Want to get a positive covid test? Use orange juice'.

Gateacre School in Belle Vale, Liverpool, sent an email to parents yesterday warning them to watch over their children as they take lateral flow Covid tests.

The school warned parents children around the country had discovered a trick for producing a false positive reading.

When droplets of fruit juice or coca-cola are used on the test the high acid level destroys the antibody proteins inside it.

The email read: 'Nationally, some school students have discovered that placing droplets of orange juice or other fruit juice on an LFD test gets a false 'positive' result.

...

Headteacher Gareth Jones insisted the message was sent after they were made aware of students in 'other schools in the country' obtaining void or positive results by pouring orange juice onto Covid tests.

He said: 'This practice has been shared on social media channels including TikTok.

[MayflowerMadam]

That’s interesting. (Just try to find an ink blotter in 2021!)

[Magnum44]