What is the liquid used in LFT's? Can I use saline?

[ItsAllAboutTheLighting]

I had a box of LFT's, all the little pots disappeared.

This happened two more times before I figured out the cat was taking them. No idea where he's put them.

It means I have a lot of sticks and little test boats but no fluid.

Seems such a waste, could I either use a different kind of fluid (saline?!) or order just the extraction fluid?

No, it's a special extraction solution. I'm afraid you just need to write those kits off, or keep the other parts for spares, which is what I do.

No you need the extraction stuff!

How do you know that cat’s taken them unless you saw him take one? And if you saw him take one, why didn’t you check where he put it? And why did you leave the box open in a place that he could get to?

Surely even if he hasn’t taken the tubes, it would have been very unhygienic to leave them out with the lid open.

@Warmduscher

How do you know that cat’s taken them unless you saw him take one? And if you saw him take one, why didn’t you check where he put it? And why did you leave the box open in a place that he could get to?

Surely even if he hasn’t taken the tubes, it would have been very unhygienic to leave them out with the lid open.

I did see him take one. Have you seen how fast a cat runs? He bolted out the door like lightening.

What a weird thing to question me on.
Are you ok?

Bastard cat strikes again.

If you find the extraction pots please would you see if my hair bobbles are there I keep hiding them but he just luffs them so much!

No

No
It’s special antigen
Saline is not the same

I'd say they are fine OP but probably you should be checking your cat is ok seeing as you have no idea what they have been running off with

@StartingGrid

I'd say they are fine OP but probably you should be checking your cat is ok seeing as you have no idea what they have been running off with

Yeah don't let the cat eat them

I've got a load of tests but no fluid either! Was googling this myself today and came to the conclusion it's a buffering solution and I don't think I can replicate at home. If anyone out there knows otherwise it would be handy information.

We had a few batches of the old LFTs with minuscule amounts of extraction liquid. In some cases, the swab absorbed all of the liquid so there wasn't any left to drip on the test strip so we have loads of swabs and tests but no liquid left.

I asked at the chemist if we could buy some extraction fluid (you can't) as it seemed a waste to chuck them when tests are in short supply. We've ended up using half the fluid from the new tests (where the liquid comes sealed in the test tube thing) for the old tests. Hopefully it doesn't compromise the accuracy too much as we've given the liquid a good squeeze around the swab.

No it's not saline, it's viral transport media which has over things in it to promote the growth of whatever is being tested.

@FrenchyQ

No it's not saline, it's viral transport media which has over things in it to promote the growth of whatever is being tested.

For a LFT? Are you absolutely sure of that? You swirl it around for a few seconds how quickly do you think a virus reproduces in the presence or absence of a living cell?

@mnp321

We had a few batches of the old LFTs with minuscule amounts of extraction liquid. In some cases, the swab absorbed all of the liquid so there wasn't any left to drip on the test strip so we have loads of swabs and tests but no liquid left.

I asked at the chemist if we could buy some extraction fluid (you can't) as it seemed a waste to chuck them when tests are in short supply. We've ended up using half the fluid from the new tests (where the liquid comes sealed in the test tube thing) for the old tests. Hopefully it doesn't compromise the accuracy too much as we've given the liquid a good squeeze around the swab.

You have to use the liquid that comes with that specific type of test.

That's what the pharmacist I asked said but they might be talking rubbish

In that case, oops. I just presumed the fluid used in the lateral flow tests did the same thing. Thankfully we've only got 5 of the old style tests left now.

@StartingGrid

I'd say they are fine OP but probably you should be checking your cat is ok seeing as you have no idea what they have been running off with

Come to think of it, I haven't seen him for a few weeks. I hope he's ok. 😉

He doesn't eat them, I found three under the fridge, he bats them around and they got lost under there.
But that was 3 of about 14.

I've no idea where they are but he doesn't eat them.

Thanks for the swift answer though, I'd didn't think it would be as simple as using saline.

I thought all the antibody and nanoparticle stuff was embedded in the paper contained in the actual testing cassette. The solution is just a buffer to keep it stable - I’d try it with water instead.

Oh but I am talking about the old tests in the blue/white box.

@gsaoej

Oh but I am talking about the old tests in the blue/white box.

That's what I have.

Are there different ones now then?

One of my cats has taken a particular liking to the swabs in their packets.

Misses point of thread 😂

There are nose only ones in a green box. Their liquid is packaged very differently.

What is it with cats and lateral flows? One of mine tries to steal and run off with all the bits while someones doing them. He thinks of them as his favourite toy that he's not allowed to play with.

I was idally pondering the other day if you could mix and match the tests and the fluids any one know ?
Ds2 was sent home last week from school last week with some LFT,s in a totally different box from either the old type of LFT,s and the Flowflex ones ,produced in China I think ,I'm always mislaying the separate parts so it was a thought that crossed my mind .

I think saline is fine - ours was missing so we use contact lens cleaner. Worked ok ( well picked up my positive confirmed by PCR). Unless coincidence!