Your "Make poverty history" wristband may keep prospective dates at bay. It may be a good idea for you to swap it for an Aids awareness one so the guy you're interested in knows you're single.

That is because the charity wristband people wear to show support for certain causes, reveals a lot more about them than their favourite colour or their social conscience, according to a new poll by entertainment website TV.com.

A 1,000 young people were surveyed about charity wristbands, revealing that a person's choice of wristband is also a bit of a secret code. Two-thirds said the wristbands reveal the wearer's sexual preference and availability.

So a good conversation point when you chat to a guy could be to ask him what wristband he's wearing - and finding out a lot more than what he's telling you.

The white wristband asking people to make poverty history is believed to indicate that the wearer is attached. The red Aids awareness wristband as worn by Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria shows the wearer is single and searching.

If you're a girl, don't bother flirting with guys wearing purple or turquoise wristbands, as they are probably flirting with other guys wearing purple or turquoise wristbands.

Keep your wittiest chat to those like David Beckham that wears blue anti-bullying wristbands (straight guys) if you wear a pink wristband for breast cancer awareness (straight girls).

Bisexual Angelina Jolie might choose to combine a pink and blue wristband, whereas her co-star in Mr & Mrs Smith, Brad Pitt would probably opt for a black wristband, an indication that the wearer is recently separated.

But don't judge a date by his wristband. Many people do wear their wristbands because they show their support for causes they feel strongly about.

And there is something irresistible about a guy with a social conscience and passion for a good cause (provided he wears a blue wristband!).