Lateral flow test - no vial of liquid included

[MrsSchadenfreude]

So I just spat in it to see what happened. I was expecting to get the “void” result but it worked and showed as negative.
I’m tempted to continue doing this in future rather than give myself a nosebleed twice a week, if it works. But should it work?

A nose bleed? You’re being way too rough. No need for that

You haven't got a negative result as you haven't done a test.

Stop being silly, do the test properly.

If it worked that way they'd be doing it that way for ease .

@rrhuth but surely if it hadn’t worked then I’d have got a “void” result? That was my question really - why didn’t it show as void if the test hadn’t been done properly?

@Oftenithinkaboutit I have always had a problem with nosebleeds! It’s my nose, I’m really not rough!

[quote MrsSchadenfreude]@rrhuth but surely if it hadn’t worked then I’d have got a “void” result? That was my question really - why didn’t it show as void if the test hadn’t been done properly?

@Oftenithinkaboutit I have always had a problem with nosebleeds! It’s my nose, I’m really not rough![/quote]
Put water on the test. What happens?

You haven't done a test.

Are you sure there is no vial? Newer tests have the liquid already in the small container that you put the sample stick in.

I heard orange juice gives a positive result.

@CrumbsThatsQuick

Are you sure there is no vial? Newer tests have the liquid already in the small container that you put the sample stick in.

I heard orange juice gives a positive result.

I assumed she meant that's what's missing?

We've had some packs like that. I think they were supposed to have the vial with the liquid in but had the usual containers that needs the liquid added, but no liquid. I did think it was a real waste as then useless.

And no spitting on it doesnt work. It just shows the test has gone that far up the stick.

If you did have the liquid you can just use that without putting the stick anywhere near your own bodily fluids and it gives you a negative rather than a void. Very easy to fake a negative but why would you?

Slightly related, I've had to throw out quite a few tests because I could not remove the metal foil cap on the vial (not without using some kind of brute force and damaging/contaminating the contents).

There seems to be no way of reporting this?

You would get a negative result if you didn’t take a sample and just put the liquid straight onto the test. A void result usually means something is wrong with the actual test strip. You still need to take an actual sample - just be a bit gentler!

I’ve no intention of faking a negative test. And if you put water on it, it gives a void result.

Swab your throat instead

@MrsSchadenfreude

So I just spat in it to see what happened. I was expecting to get the “void” result but it worked and showed as negative. I’m tempted to continue doing this in future rather than give myself a nosebleed twice a week, if it works. But should it work?

You are tempted to spit on a test rather than actually do the test? I don’t understand!

@Ifailed

Slightly related, I've had to throw out quite a few tests because I could not remove the metal foil cap on the vial (not without using some kind of brute force and damaging/contaminating the contents).

There seems to be no way of reporting this?

I had this too on one pack. I had to poke it in the end but it’s not ideal.

@Ifailed I have had the same. Absolute pain. I have used then non swap end of the swap stick as I assume it is vaguely sterile. Not ideal but I don't want to waste the whole box. It's then hard to push the lid in 🙄

Have you checked the box thoroughly? I thought mine was missing the vials of buffer solution but they were tucked in the folded instruction booklet (which I had discarded as I've done loads and don't need to read the instructions).

The vial is a special reagent. It is not just about making it wet.

The vial is a buffer solution. This balances the pH. This is why orange juice gives a positive result, it's an acid.
Just use it properly & don't stick it so far up your nose. They haven't been validated using saliva.

Don’t you get a box of 6? Did none of them have the solution?

If you didn't need the solution they wouldn't give you the solution

As above, do check inside the instruction leaflet, the buffer ampoules are often tucked up inside there. The buffer contains water, salt and pHing agent to make the test for sand work at the right pH, soap to break down virus and a preservative agent. So spitting on the lateral flow device won't give a valid result.

flow and

@Ifailed

Slightly related, I've had to throw out quite a few tests because I could not remove the metal foil cap on the vial (not without using some kind of brute force and damaging/contaminating the contents).

There seems to be no way of reporting this?

Same just can't open some of them, usually a couple per box.

@MrsSchadenfreude

So I just spat in it to see what happened. I was expecting to get the “void” result but it worked and showed as negative. I’m tempted to continue doing this in future rather than give myself a nosebleed twice a week, if it works. But should it work?

Define work?

It may give you a result that you can share with whoever is requested it, if your aim is to comply with testing policy.

But if you have coronavirus it won't be detected - the liquid is needed to extract CV genetic material which causes a positive result.

Well if it is just going to give a negative (rather than void) result wouldn’t this be an easy way to fake your day two test if you’ve flown in? So a bit of a farce?

I have to do it for work, so I just went to reception and got another test. It seems to be a bit of a duff batch as other people hadn’t had a vial of liquid in theirs either.