liamscheff.com - home for independent journalism

Before you submit to any medical test, you have a right to what’s called “informed consent“; that is, to be informed about the limitations of the procedure you’re about to undergo.

This legal right seems to have slipped the minds of the purveyors of what are known as “Hiv tests,” and for good reason - because the tests don’t work as advertised, (and they don’t want you to know that, because it would cost them, dearly).

But don’t take my word for it. If you think you can prove me wrong, or right, or you’re being asked to take one of these tests, then before you do, please seek answers to the following questions (and let me know what you find):

• How are Hiv tests constructed? How do they work? What do they measure?

• What are the specific mechanical components of the tests? Where are the parts made? Where do they come from?

• What makes a test react? What makes a reaction positive or negative?

• What is the difference between a positive and a negative reaction?

• What standards are used to interpret a reaction?

• What other factors are used to determine the meaning or interpretation of a test result?

• Do the tests measure only one thing? Do they measure what they claim to measure? Do they cross-react, and if so, with what? Why do they cross-react?

• Who are the tests used on? Where are they issued most often? What gives a test a higher versus a lower “predictive value“?

Answering these questions isn’t just a good idea, it’s your legal right, and don’t let anyone tell you it isn’t.