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Orange tik tok icon12/7/2023 Even a small change to the chains can dramatically impact a protein’s function. These chains fold up into very specific structures. Antibodies are proteins, which are comprised of amino acid building blocks, attached together to form long, linear chains. So without the buffer, the antibodies in the test are fully exposed to the acidic pH of the beverages.Īnd this has a dramatic effect on their structure and function. The critical role of the buffer is highlighted by the fact that if you mix cola with the buffer – as shown in this debunking of an Austrian politician’s claim that mass testing is worthless – then the LFTs behave exactly as you’d expect: negative for Covid-19. Maintaining an ideal pH for the antibodies is key to the correct function of the test, and that’s the job of the liquid buffer solution that you mix your sample with, provided with the test. 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. So they aren’t going to react to the ingredients of a soft drink.ĭo you think schools should close early for summer? Let us know in this survey:Ī much more likely explanation is that something in the drinks is affecting the function of the antibodies.Ī 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. There’s all sorts of stuff in the snot and saliva collected by the swabs you take from the nose and mouth, and the antibodies totally ignore this mess of protein, other viruses and remains of your breakfast. The reason antibodies are used in tests like these is that they are incredibly fussy about what they bind to. One possibility is that the drinks contain something that the antibodies recognise and bind to, just as they do to the virus. So how can a soft drink cause the appearance of a red T line? This final line is used to indicate the test has worked.įake positive results. These trap the remaining gold particles, without having to do so via the virus. 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. 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. The latter also bind to the virus, if present.ĭid you know we offer a free email newsletter service?Įach North Wales Live bulletin delivers the latest breaking news, what's on events and the hottest talking points straight to your inbox.įor more information about how to subscribe click here.įurther up the strip, next to the T (for test), are more antibodies that bind the virus.īut these antibodies are not free to move – they are stuck to the nitrocellulose.Īs the red smear of gold-labelled antibodies pass this second set of antibodies, these also grab hold of the virus. The fluid wicks up the nitrocellulose strip and picks up the gold and antibodies. 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. 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. 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.Ībsorbed to the red pad are antibodies that bind to the Covid-19 virus. It’s worth understanding how the tests work.
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