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COVID-19: kids are using soft drinks to fake positive tests – I’ve worked out the science and how to spot it

COVID-19: kids are using soft drinks to fake positive tests – I’ve worked out the science and how to spot it Y2jbm
hildren are always going to find cunning ways to bunk off school, and the latest trick is to fake a positive COVID-19 lateral flow test (LFT) using soft drinks. So how are fruit juices, cola and devious kids fooling the tests and is there a way to tell a fake positive result from a real one? I’ve tried to find out. First, 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. Sure enough, a few minutes later, two lines appeared on each test, supposedly indicating the presence of the virus that causes COVID-19. It’s worth understanding how the tests work. 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. Absorbed to the red pad are antibodies that bind to the COVID-19 virus. 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. 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. Image of positive tests, using cola and orange juice. Fake positive results. Mark Lorch, Author provided The fluid wicks up the nitrocellulose strip and picks up the gold and antibodies. The latter also bind to the virus, if present. Further up the strip, next to the T (for test), are more antibodies that bind the virus. But these antibodies are not free to move – they are stuck to the nitrocellulose. As the red smear of gold-labelled antibodies pass this second set of antibodies, these also grab hold of the virus. The virus is then bound to both sets of antibodies – leaving everything, including the gold, immobilised on a line next to the T on the device, indicating a positive test. Gold antibodies that haven’t bound to the virus carry on up the strip where they meet a third set of antibodies, not designed to pick up COVID-19, stuck at the C (for control) line. These trap the remaining gold particles, without having to do so via the virus. This final line is used to indicate the test has worked.
This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
hildren
are always going to find cunning ways to bunk off school, and the latest trick is to fake a
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
positive
COVID-19 lateral flow
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
test
(LFT) using soft drinks.
This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:
So
how are fruit juices, cola and devious kids fooling the
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
tests
and is there a way to
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
tell
a fake
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
positive
result from a real one? I’ve tried to find out.

First
, I
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
thought
it best to
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
check
the claims,
This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:
so
I cracked open bottles of cola and orange juice, then deposited a few drops
directly
onto
Possible spelling mistake found.
LFTs
. Sure
This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:
enough
, a few minutes later, two
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lines
appeared on each
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
test
,
supposedly
indicating the presence of the
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
virus
that causes COVID-19.

It’s worth understanding how the
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
tests
work. If you open up an LFT device, you’ll find a
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
strip
of paper-like material, called nitrocellulose, and a
This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:
small
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
red
pad, hidden under the plastic casing below the T-line. Absorbed to the
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
red
pad are antibodies that bind to the COVID-19
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
virus
. They are
also
attached to gold nanoparticles (tiny particles of gold actually appear
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
red)
, which
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
allow
us to
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
see
where the antibodies are on the device. When you do a
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
test
, you mix your sample with a liquid buffer solution, ensuring the sample stays at an optimum pH,
This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:
before
dripping it on the strip.

Image of
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positive
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tests
, using cola and orange juice.

Fake
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positive
results. Mark
Possible spelling mistake found.
Lorch
, Author provided

The fluid wicks up the nitrocellulose
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strip
and picks up the gold and antibodies. The latter
also
bind to the
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virus
, if present.
Did you forget a comma after a conjunctive/linking adverb?
Further
up the
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strip
,
next
to the T (for
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test)
, are more antibodies that bind the
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virus
.
This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:
But
these antibodies are not free to
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
move
Consider using an m-dash if you do not want to join two words.
–
they
are stuck
to the nitrocellulose. As the
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red
smear of gold-labelled antibodies pass this second set of antibodies, these
also
grab hold of the
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virus
. The
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virus
is then bound to both sets of antibodies
Consider using an m-dash if you do not want to join two words.
–
leaving everything, including the gold,
Possible spelling mistake. 'immobilised' is British English.
immobilised
on a
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line
next
to the T on the device, indicating a
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positive
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
test
.

Gold antibodies that haven’t bound to the
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virus
carry on up the
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strip
where they
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meet
a third set of antibodies, not designed to pick up COVID-19, stuck at the C (for control)
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line
. These trap the remaining gold particles, without having to do
This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:
so
via the
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virus
. This final
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line
is
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used
to indicate the
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test
has worked.
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IELTS letter COVID-19: kids are using soft drinks to fake positive tests – I’ve worked out the science and how to spot it

Letter
  American English
6 paragraphs
394 words
5.5
Overall Band Score
Coherence and Cohesion: 6.0
  • Structure your answers in logical paragraphs
  • ?
    One main idea per paragraph
  • ?
    Include an introduction and conclusion
  • ?
    Support main points with an explanation and then an example
  • Use cohesive linking words accurately and appropriately
  • ?
    Vary your linking phrases using synonyms
Lexical Resource: 5.0
  • Try to vary your vocabulary using accurate synonyms
  • Use less common question specific words that accurately convey meaning
  • Check your work for spelling and word formation mistakes
Grammatical Range: 5.5
  • Use a variety of complex and simple sentences
  • Check your writing for errors
Task Achievement: 5.0
  • Answer all parts of the question
  • ?
    Present relevant ideas
  • Fully explain these ideas
  • ?
    Support ideas with relevant, specific examples
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