No solid evidence carbonated drinks can lead to false positive Covid-19 result - MDA

PUTRAJAYA - There is no solid evidence to support claims that carbonated or fizzy drinks can be used to obtain false positive Covid-19 results using a Covid-19 self-test kit, said Medical Device Authority (MDA) chief executive P. Muralitharan.

He said that liquids, other than the samples mentioned in the instructions for the Covid-19 self-test kit, have chemical properties which can cause a chemical reaction on the test strip, and result in inaccurate, invalid and misleading results.

"Using carbonated drinks as a sample for testing for Covid-19 is not a valid or reliable scientific method.

"This is because carbonated drinks contain various compounds and substances; they do not contain specific viral components or genetic material designed to be detected by this test kit,” he said in a statement here today.

Recently, social media user @meinmokhtar posted on X (formerly Twitter) about the claims, but the post was since deleted.

Muralitharan said that all the self-testing kits for Covid-19 only use saliva samples or nasal and throat swabs, and do not use water samples, food items or other liquids. "If the self-test kit is used correctly, it can help us detect Covid-19 and curb the spread of the virus,” he said.

He said that testing methods which are validated and follow the guidance of healthcare professionals and public health authorities, are crucial when it comes to testing for Covid-19.

"Any dissemination of incorrect information by deliberately misusing medical devices during the spread of Covid-19 is an irresponsible act, and endangers public health,” he said. - BERNAMA