Dr. José Luis Gettor on the 'DARPA hydrogel' in nasal swabs
These tests are a weapon. They contain a substance developed by military intelligence called "DARPA hydrogel". And the small tip of the swab is not made of plain cotton. These swabs come from China. It's not a plastic stick with a cotton tip. It's a bundle of hollow nylon fibres that contain ethylene oxide, among other things.
Ethylene oxide is a toxin that is retained by the hydrogel. But when the swab enters the mucosa at 30 °C, the hydrogel melts. And remember that ethylene oxide boils at 10.4 ºC. That's why it's so painful. That's why it burns so badly. Because once the hydrogel melts, ethylene oxide is released and forms an ulcer at the bottom of the nasopharynx.
These tests are a weapon. They contain a substance developed by military intelligence called "DARPA hydrogel". And the small tip of the swab is not made of plain cotton. These swabs come from China. It's not a plastic stick with a cotton tip. It's a bundle of hollow nylon fibres that contain ethylene oxide, among other things.
Ethylene oxide is a toxin that is retained by the hydrogel. But when the swab enters the mucosa at 30 °C, the hydrogel melts. And remember that ethylene oxide boils at 10.4 ºC. That's why it's so painful. That's why it burns so badly. Because once the hydrogel melts, ethylene oxide is released and forms an ulcer at the bottom of the nasopharynx.