STUDENTS are taking part in a TikTok craze which shows them how to get a “false positive” on a coronavirus lateral flow test – to get out of school.
Pupils are using fruit juice in an attempt to get a positive result form he testing kit after a video was posted on the popular social media site.
A school has now sent out a warning to parents that their children might be using the “hack” when they are taking the test.
A viral video was uploaded which shows the liquid being poured onto the test and then waiting for two lines to appear in the results window.
Two lines on the lateral flow test represent a “positive” test for Covid-19 alongside the control line which is meant to show that it has worked properly.
The footage, posted by @missleanne1, has been watched almost half a million times on the app.
The caption of the video said: “Who knew using blackcurrant on a lateral flow Covid test will give a positive result. You will thank me later.”
Ministers want to roll out jabs to children for the first time — subject to approval from top medics, which insiders say could come within weeks.
They also want to offer all A-Level and college students aged 16 and 17 a vaccine in August, before they head back to education in the autumn.
Gateacre School in Belle Vale, Liverpool, emailed parents last week urging them to keep an eye on their children when they take the test, according to MailOnline.
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.
“In light of this, can you be extra vigilant when your child is doing their LFD tests.
“Also, remind them that a positive LFD test must be followed by a confirmatory PCR test.”
Anyone who is taking the test is warned not to do the test straight after eating or drinking by the instructions, because it can give a false positive.
The acids in fruit juice dissolve antibody proteins on the surface of the testing stick.
However even if the pranksters got a positive lateral result, they would have to take a more accurate PCR test to confirm if they had Covid – not resulting in much time off from school.
TikTok users have blasted the idea, slamming the user for wasting resources and potentially leading to false data.
But some admitted that they hated their jobs so much that they might give the “hack” a try.
One user commented: “Also means ‘cases’ will go up so we go into a lockdown. Great idea.”
“Well done let’s do this and stay in lockdown longer FML,” blasted another.
A third viewer wrote: “Waste of resources and time. Well done you.”
Someone else asked: “Have people really got jobs they hate so much? Get a new job.”
The TikToker said in the comments she was showing how unreliable the tests were when compared to the PCR ones.
A government spokesperson said: “It is imperative that everyone using lateral flow devices uses them in the correct way to ensure we can control and slow the spread of Covid-19.
“Around one in three people with Covid-19 experience no symptoms and rapid testing with lateral flow tests helps us track down positive cases that would otherwise go under the radar.”
