Does the fact that an orange and a lemon tested positive for COVID-19 prove home tests are unreliable?
By Sarah Thompson
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NO
People are testing fruit and soft drinks for COVID-19 using home antigen test kits. Some are turning up positive results.
Mark Lorch, Professor of Science Communication and Chemistry at the University of Hull, told The Conversation that the high acidity in these and other liquids may be compromising the proper function of the antibodies that detect COVID-19, causing the error. Lorch highlighted that negative results have been procured by adding the pH buffer solution used in test kits to an acidic liquid such as cola.
UCLA family medicine physician Katina Murray told UCLA Health that at-home COVID-19 tests "boast an accuracy rate greater than 90%" when used correctly.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
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