Revelations from the Reveal Rapid hiv antibody test.

Pro-aids people put a lot of faith in the test that supposedly tests for hiv antibodies. They claim that hiv tests detect antibodies specific to hiv, and that many strains of hiv are also detected by these tests.

To test this assertion, I selected at random one of the tests the FDA has approved as a hiv diagnostic test, the Reveal Rapid test and read what the manufacturer themselves had to say about their test. This test was approved by the FDA in 2003 and is manufactured in Canada.

This test, interestingly enough, does not give us any confidence in it's ability to detect antibodies to hiv. In fact, it says,

" A Reactive test result using the Reveal™ Rapid HIV -1 Antibody Test suggests the presence of anti-HIV-1antibodies in the specimen." [page 8 of the above-linked label]

If the test genuinely detected antibodies to hiv, and this ability to detect hiv antibodies were thoroughly scientifically validated, then there would be no need to say the test “suggests” the presence of anti-hiv antibodies. In fact, given that “dissidents” have criticized the “hiv test” for decades, I would imagine that the manufacturer would openly and loudly declare that the test absolutely detected anti-hiv antibodies. But no, this test “suggests.”

Though the manufacturer of the the test says its product merely, “suggests” the presence of anti-hiv antibodies, the FDA approved this test as a diagnostic test. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, labels are written by the manufacturer and approved by the FDA. So this language, and the word “suggests,” is approved by the FDA.

But there is more to see on the label for the Reveal Rapid test. Though this is an “approved diagnostic test” the label cautions :

" Results of the MedMira Reveal™ Rapid HIV -1 Antibody Test should not be used in isolation, but in conjunction with the clinical status, history, and risk factors of the individual being tested." [ibid]

Few people understand that one cannot be positive “for hiv” without the discretion and sanction of a doctor who has “approved” one’s clinical status, history, and “risk factors.” In other words, even a positive or negative result on the Reveal Rapid test is not meaningful until a doctor asks about sex, sexual orientation, intravenous drug use, condoms, and a whole host of questions that really should not affect the results of a blood test. Yet not only do the manufacturers of the Reveal Rapid state that these bits of information are useful, they state that they are required if their test is going to be used properly. Ultimately, the manufacturer declares the doctor is accountable for the result of the test.

The reason the manufacturers insist that sexual and drug activities be used to understand the test is partly because of this:

"The specificity of the Reveal™ Rapid HIV -1 Antibody Test for serum specimens in low -risk populations has not been evaluated."[ibid]

What this means is that people who aren’t “supposed” to get hiv, may still test positive! Not only will they test positive, but the manufacturer is saying they have no idea why a person in a “low-risk” demographic would light up their test. This is a clear admission that they are not really sure what triggers a “positive” result at all. What is also clear is that gays, blacks, the promiscuous, and the poor are all in pre-defined “risk-groups” and therefore will not be afforded the same consideration of someone not in a risk-group. The same “positive” result will result in a gay man being told he “has hiv,” while a Republican politician will be negative based on his placement in a “low-risk” demographic. The risk groups are pre-judged.

The Reveal Rapid test tells us exactly what is happening. It says that only people “at-risk” can accurately be tested with their product. For some reason, the test is a little wonky on everyone else, and heck they don’t know what it could mean for them, but it must not be important and it isn't worth studying.

Pro-aids people argue that these statements by the manufacturer and approved by the FDA are just legal disclaimers. Yet, the manufactures do not call these statements “disclaimers,” they call this section of the label, “Limitations of the Test.” It is a limitation that the test “suggests” the presence of anti-hiv antibodies. It is a limitation that it can only be used on people pre-defined as being likely to have hiv.

If people who stand by the Reveal Rapid test want to testify in court and swear under oath that these limitations are not obstructions to its ability to detect hiv in a person, I am sure they will be able to find a court case and face the attorneys at the Office of Medical and Scientific Justice, www.OMSJ.org. They have won several dismissals of hiv-related charges by asking the simple question: can the prosecution prove that an hiv test actually detects hiv? As we can see, the manufacturers are not very convinced that their tests can actually detect hiv (“…suggests!”). So far, the experts are not willing to testify in front of an informed defense team.

The Reveal Rapid test has been approved by the FDA as a diagnostic test. However an actual reading of the insert for the Reveal Rapid test shows that the test is not a diagnostic test. In fact given the published limitations of the test, they don’t really know what it tests for at all. Moreover, whatever result it does give, the doctor is free to just tell the patient whatever result she thinks is correct!

The Reveal Reapid antibody test does not, by their own admission, detect hiv nor hiv antibodies. It cannot be used to diagnose hiv infection in anyone. YET this test has been approved by the FDA as a diagnostic tool! Do not fall into the hiv lie my friends! Never test!