Versions Compared

Key

  • This line was added.
  • This line was removed.
  • Formatting was changed.

This article was written in June 2000
and posted during the Internet Discussion
By Roberto Giraldo
June 2000
Posted during the Internet Discussion of the South African Presidential AIDS Advisory Panel

Author Tag

Publisher Tag

Topic Tag

  • #Roberto Giraldo

  • #HIV Tests

    • #ELISA

    • #Western Blot

    • #Viral Load

...

For the last 6 years I have been working at a laboratory of clinical immunology in one of the most prestigious University Hospitals in the City of New York. Here I have had the opportunity to personally run and get to know in detail the current tests used for the diagnosis of HIV status, namely, the ELISA, Western blot and Viral Load tests.

1. The ELISA, Western blot, and Viral Load tests, used for the diagnosis of "HIV infection" are not at all accurate

There are many arguments against the accuracy of these tests to diagnose infection by what is known as HIV. For those who want to search the issue deeper I strongly recommend begin studying the 1993 article in Bio/Technology by Eleni Papadopulos-Eleopulos and her group of researches from Perth, Western Australia (12).

...

1.12. People have the right to make informed choices (43-45). However, the right of informed choice implies a right to good information. There is no justification for the fact that most people have not been informed about the serious inaccuracy of the tests for HIV infection. Withholding or obscuring these facts is a serious breach of public trust, violating as it does a person’s right to informed consent when making decisions about their health care. The legal implications of this situation have been noted (46).

2. Being "HIV-positive" does not mean that a person is infected with "HIV"

2.1. There are a growing number of scientific publications explaining in detail that the tests for HIV infection are not specific for HIV (12-14,47). There are many reasons other than a past or present HIV infection to explain why an individual reacts positive on these tests. In other words these tests can react positive in the absence of HIV (12-14,17-19,30).

...

2.9. There is no justification for the fact that both patients and the general public have had all of the preceding facts withheld from them. Without the merits and demerits of the tests for HIV, people cannot make informed decisions.

3. The so-called "AIDS virus", HIV, may not even exist

Biophysicist Eleni Papadopulos-Eleopulos and her group of researchers at Royal Perth Hospital in Perth, Western Australia, were the very first scientists in mentioning the fact that HIV has never been isolated (12). For several years Papadopulos-Eleopulos and coworkers, have been publishing papers where they have described in detail, the scientific facts that support the assertion that the so-called AIDS virus, HIV, may not even exist (12-14,20,30,31,47,50,61-64):

...

3.10. It is therefore possible to conclude that the entire model of AIDS as an infectious and transmissible viral disease has its basis on a non-existing organism. The foundation stone for the HIV-AIDS model then, is a ghost.

4. The real meaning of being HIV-positive

4.1. Above considerations allow one to propose that the reactivity on the ELISA, Western blot, and PCR tests is caused by multiple, repeated, and chronic exposure to chemical, physical, biological, mental, and nutritional stressor agents. The degree of reactivity would be proportional to the level of exposures to immunological stressor or oxidizing agents (12-14,20,30,31,63,88,89).

...

What we know as HIV has not causative role in AIDS. By the contrary, the HIV phenomenon is one of the effects of the stress response to multiple repeated, and chronic exposures to chemical, physical, biological, mental, and nutritional stressor agents.

5. Possible trial to find out the real meaning of the tests for HIV

To take blood from four groups of people and run the tests highly diluted, undiluted and at a wide spectrum of dilutions in between. a) The first group would be a group of healthy people of many age groups, b) the second group would be a group of people from the conventional AIDS risk groups, c) the third group would be a group of people with clinical conditions unrelated to AIDS, and d) the fourth group would be a group of patients with full manifestations of AIDS.

...

The result of such experiment could determine whether these tests measurements bear any relationship to an individual’s level of exposure to stressor or oxidizing agents. If so, the tests could be salvaged as a measure of individual’s level of intoxication.REFERENCES

This article was written in June 2000 and posted during the Internet Discussion of the South African Presidential AIDS Advisory Panel

References

  1. CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 1993 Revised Classification System for HIV Infection & Expanded Surveillance Case Definition for AIDS Among Adolescents & Adults. MMWR 1992; 41: 1-19.

  2. FAUCI AS. Immunopathogenesis of HIV Infection. J Acq Immunodeficiency Syndromes 1993: 6:655-662.

  3. STAPRANS SI and FEINBERG MB. Natural History and Immunopathogenesis of HIV-1 Disease. In: SANDE MA and VOLBERDING PA. The Medical Management of AIDS. 5th Edition. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company, 1997: 29-56.

  4. LEVY JA. Overal Features of HIV Pathogenesis: Prognosis for Long-Term Survival. In: HIV and the Pathogenesis of AIDS. Second Edition. Washington DC: ASM Press, 1998: 311-338.

  5. VOLBERDING PA and COHEN PT. Natural History, Clinical Spectrum, and General Management of HIV Disease. In: COHEN PT, SANDE MA and VOLBERDING PA. The AIDS Knowledge Base. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1994: Section 4.

  6. INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE & NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. Confronting AIDS. Washington DC: National Academy Press, 1986.

  7. WORTLEY PM, CHU SY and BERKELMAN RL. Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS in Women and Impact of the Expanded 1993 CDC Surveillance Definition of AIDS. In: COTTON D and WATTS DH. The Medical Management of AIDS in Women. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1997: 3-14.

  8. FEINBERG MA and VOLBERDING PA. Testing for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. In: COHEN PT, SANDE MA and VOLBERDING PA. The Aids Knowledge Base. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1994: Section 2.

  9. PINS MR, TERUYA J and STOWELL CP. Human Immunodeficiency Virus Testing and Case Detection: Pragmatic and Technical Issues. In: COTTON D and WATTS DH. The Medical Management of AIDS in Women. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1997: 163-176.

  10. METCALF JA, DAVEY RT and LANE HC. Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome: Serologic and Virologic Tests. In: DEVITA VT, CURRAN J, HELLMAN S, et al. AIDS: Etiology, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention. 4th Edition. Philadelphia: Lippincott - Raven, 1997: 177-196.

  11. WEISS SH. Laboratory Detection of Human Retroviral Infection. In: WORMSER GP. AIDS and Other Manifestations of HIV Infection. New York: Lippincott- Raven, 1998: 175-200.

  12. PAPADOPULOS-ELEOPULOS E, TURNER V & PAPADIMITRIOU JM. Is a Positive Western Blot Proof of HIV Infection ? Bio/Technology 1993; 11:696-707.

  13. PAPADOPULOS-ELEOPULOS E, TURNER V, PAPADIMITRIOU J & CAUSER D. HIV Antibodies: Further Questions and a Plea for Clarification. Curr Med Res Opin 1997; 13:627-634.

  14. PAPADOPULOS-ELEOPULOS E, TURNER V, PAPADIMITRIOU J, et al. Why No Whole Virus? Continuum (London) 1997; 4(5):27-30.

  15. JOHNSON C. Playing Russian Roulete in the Lab: Can you Really Trust the AIDS Test? New York: The HEAL Bulletin, Special Edition, 1993.

  16. JOHNSON C. Is Anyone Really Positive? Continuum (London); April/May 1995.

  17. JOHNSON C. Factors Known to Cause False-Positive HIV Antibody Test Results; Zenger’s San Diego, California, September 1996: 8-9.

  18. JOHNSON C. Whose Antibodies Are They Anyway? Continuum (London), September/October 1996; 4(3):4-5.

  19. HODGKINSON N. Science Fails the "AIDS Test". In: AIDS: The Failure of Contemporary Science. How a Virus that Never Was Deceived the World. London: Fourth Estate, 1996: 232-262.

  20. TURNER VF. Do HIV Antibody Tests Prove HIV Infection? Continuum (London) 1996; 3:8-11.

  21. BAUMGARTNER M and The International Forum for Accessible Science. Information Dosier: United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Geneva, Switzerland. April 1998: 64.

  22. CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Interpretation and Use of the Western Blot Assay For Serodiagnosis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infections. MMWR 1989; 38 :S1-S7.

  23. ZOLLA-PAZNER S, GORNY MK & HONNEN WJ. Reinterpretation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Western Blot Patterns. NEJM 1989; 320:1280-1281.

  24. BURKE DS. Laboratory Diagnosis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection. Clin Lab Med 1989; 9:369-392.

  25. DE COCK KM, SELIK RM, SORO B, et al. AIDS Surveillance in Africa: A Reappraisal of Case Definition. BMJ 1991; 303:1185-1189.

  26. MASKILL WJ & GUST ID. HIV-1 Testing in Australia. Australian Prescriber 1992; 15:11-13.

  27. VOEVODIN A. HIV Screening in Russia. Lancet 1992; 399:1548.

  28. CONTINUUM. HIV Positive ? - It Depends Where You Live. Take a Look at the Criteria that Determine a Positive HIV Test Result. Continuum (London) 1995; 3(4):20.

  29. LUNDBERG GD. Serological Diagnosis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection by Western Blot Testing. JAMA 1988; 260:674-679.

  30. TURNER VF. Do Antibody Tests Prove HIV Infection?. Interview by Huw Christie editor of Continuum. Continuum (London) Winter 1997/8; 5(2):10-19.

  31. PAPADOPULOS-ELEOPULOS E, TURNER VF, PAPADIMITRIOU JM & CAUSER D. The Isolation of HIV: Has it Really Been Achieved? The Case Against. Continuum (London) 1996; 4(3): S1-S24.

  32. ABBOTT LABORATORIES. Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1. HIVAB HIV-1 EIA. Abbott Laboratories, Diagnostics Division. January, 1997 (66-8805/R5), 5 pages.

  33. BUIANOUCKAS FR. HEAL’s Alternative AIDS Test. A Practical Alternative to T-Cell and Antibody Tests. HEAL (Health Education AIDS Liaison) Comprehensive Packet 1993.

  34. EPITOPE, ORGANON TEKNIKA. Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1). HIV-1 Western Blot Kit. PN201-3039 Revision # 6, page 11.

  35. ROCHE. Amplicor HIV-1 Monitor test. Roche Diagnostic Systems, 13-06-83088-001, 06/96.

  36. PIATAK N, SAAG MS, YANG LC, et al. High Levels of HIV-1 in Plasma During All Stages of Infection Determined by Competitice PCR. Science 1993; 259:1749-1754.

  37. VAN GEMEN B, KIEVITS T, SCHUKKINK R, et al. Quantification of HIV-1 RNA in Plasma Using NASBA During HIV-1 Primary Infection. J Virol Meth 1993; 43:177-188.

  38. KWOK S & SPINSKY JJ. PCR Detection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Proviral DNA Sequences. In: PERSING DH, SMITH TF, SMITH FC, et al. (eds.) Diagnostic Molecular Biology: Principles and Applications. Washington DC:ASM Press, 1993.

  39. MULDER J, MCKINNEY N, CRISTOPHERSON C, et al. Rapid and Simple PCR Assay for Quantitation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 RNA in Plasma: Application to Acute Retroviral Infection. J Clin Microbiol 1994; 32:292-300.

  40. DEWAR RL, HIGBARGER HC, SARMIENTO MB, et al. Application of Branched DNA Signal Amplification to Monitor Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Burden in Human Plasma. J Inf Dis 1994; 170:1172-1179.

  41. JOHNSON C. The PCR to Prove HIV Infection. Viral Load and Why They Can’t Be Used. Continuum (London) 1996; 4:33-37 and 39.

  42. PHILPOTT P & JOHNSON C. Viral Load of Crap. Reappraising AIDS 1996; 4(10):1-4.

  43. KENT G, DELANY L, HOPE T and GRANT V. Teaching Analysis. Informed Consent: A Case for Multidisciplinary Teaching. Health Care Analysis 1996; 4(1):65-79.

  44. O’MARA P. Life, Liberty, and Informed Consent. Mothering September/October 1998; (90): 6-9.

  45. SILVERMAN WA. Informing and Consenting. In: Where’s The Evidence ? Controversies in Modern Medicine.Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998: 78-84.

  46. CHRISTIE H. Wake the Law. Damaging, Non-Specific HIV Testing at the Hands of the Medical Industry Must Soon Prompt Large Finantial Compensation for "the Diagnosed" It’s Time to Sue! Continuum (London) Spring 1998; 5(3):28-29

  47. PAPADOPULOS-ELEOPULOS E. Reappraisal of AIDS - Is the Oxidation Induced by the Risk Factors the Primary Cause? Medical Hypothesis 1988; 25:151-162.

  48. GIRALDO RA. AIDS and Stressors IV: The Real Meaning of HIV. In: AIDS and Stressors. Medellín, Colombia: Impresos Begón, 1997: 133-173.

  49. SHALLENBERGER F. Selective Compartmental Dominance: An Explanation for a Nonifectious, Multifactorial Etiology for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), and a Rationale for Ozone Therapy and other Immune Modulating Therapies. Med Hypothesis 1998; 50:67-80.

  50. TURNER VF. Reducing Agents and AIDS - Why Are We Waiting? Med J Austr 1990; 153:502.

  51. GIRALDO RA. AIDS and Stressors II: A Proposal for the Pathogenesis of AIDS. In: AIDS and Stressors. Medellín: Impresos Begón, 1997: 57-96.

  52. SNYDER HW and FLEISSNER E. Specificity of Human Antibodies to Oncovirus Glycoproteins: Recognition of Antigen by Natural Antibodies Directed Against Carbohydrate Structures. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 1980; 77:1622-1626.

  53. BARBACID M, BOLAGNESI D & AARONSON SA. Humans Have Antibodies Capable of Recognizing Oncoviral Glycoproteins: Demonstration that these Antibodies are Formed in Response to Cellular Modification of Glycoproteins Rather than as Consequence of Exposure to Virus. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 1980; 77:1627-1621.

  54. WING MG. The Molecular Basis for a Polyspecific Antibody. Clin Exp Immunol 1995; 99:313-315.

  55. DUESBERG PH. AIDS Acquired by Drug Consumption and other Non Contagious Risk Factors. Pharmac Ther 1992; 55:201-277.

  56. DUESBERG PH & RASNICK D. The Drug-AIDS Hypothesis. Continuum (London) 1997; 4(5):S1-S24.

  57. GIRALDO RA. AIDS and Stressors III: A Proposal for the Natural History of AIDS. In: AIDS and Stressors. Medellín: Impresos Begón, 1997: 97-131.

  58. ZINKERNAGEL RM. Immunity to Viruses. In: PAUL WE. Fundamental Immunology. Third Edition. New York: Raven Press, 1993: 1211-1250.

  59. MIMS CA, DIMMOCK NJ, NASH A & STEPHEN J. The Immune Response to Infections. In: Mims’ Pathogenesis of Infectious Diseases. Chapter 6. London: Academic Press, 1995: 136-167.

  60. EVANS AS. Viral Infections of Humans, Epidemiology and Control. New York: Plenum Publishing Corporation, 1989.

  61. PAPADOPULOS-ELEOPULOS E. Is HIV the Cause of AIDS. Interview by Christine Johnson. Continuum (London) 1997; 5(1):8-19.

  62. PAPADOPULOS-ELEOPULOS E, TURNER V, PAPADIMITRIOU J, et al. Between the Lines. A Critical Analysis of Luc Montagnier’s Interview Answers to Djamel Tahi. Continuum (London) 1997/8; 5(2):35-45.

  63. TURNER VF. Where Have We Gone Wrong? Continuum (London) 1998; 5(3):38-44.

  64. PAPADOPULOS-ELEOPULOS E, TURNER V & PAPADIMITRIOU J. Oxidative Stress, HIV and AIDS. Res Immunol 1992; 143:145-148.

  65. BARRE-SINOUSSI F, CHERMANN JC, REY F et al. Isolation of a T-Lymphotropic Retrovirus from a Patient at Risk for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Science 1983; 220:868-871.

  66. PAPOVIC M, SARNGADHARAN MG, READ E, et al. Detection, Isolation, and Continious Production of Cytopathic Retroviruses (HTLV-III) from Patients with AIDS and Pre-AIDS. Science 1984; 224:497-500.

  67. LEVY J, HOFFMAN AD, KRAMER SM, et al. Isolation of Lymphocytopathic Retroviruses from San Francisco Patients with AIDS. Science 1984; 225:840-842.

  68. BUIANOUCKAS FR. HIV an Illusion. Nature 1995; 375:197.

  69. LANKA S. HIV: Reality or Artefact? Continuum (London) 1995.

  70. LANKA S. Collective Fallacy. Rethinking HIV. Continuum (London) 1996; 4(3):19-20.

  71. LANKA S. No Viral Identification: No Cloning as Proof of Isolation. Continuum (London) 1997; 4(5):31-33.

  72. DE HARVEN E. Pioneer Deplores "HIV" "Maintaining Errors is Evil" Continuum (London) 1997/8; 5(2):24.

  73. DE HARVEN E. Remarks on Methods for Retroviral Isolation. Continuum (London) 1998; 5(3):20-21.

  74. PHILPOTT P. The Isolation Question. Does HIV Exist? Do HIV Tests Indicate HIV Infection? Here’s Why Some Scientists Say No. How an Australian Biophysicist and her Simple Observations Have Taken Center Stage Among AIDS Reappraisers. Reappraising AIDS 1997; 5(6):1-12.

  75. HODGKINSON N.Origin of the Specious. Continuum (London) 1996c; 4(3):17-18.

  76. KLATZMANN D & MONTAGNIER L. Approaches to AIDS Therapy. Nature 1986; 319:10-11.

  77. DOOLITTLE RF, FENG DF, JOHNSON MS, et al. Origins and Evolutionary Relationships of Retroviruses. Quart Rev Biol 1989; 64:1-30.

  78. LORI D, DI MARZO VERONESE F, DE VICO AL, et al. Viral DNA Carried by Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Virions. J Virol 1992; 66:5067-5074.

  79. ZHANG H, ZHANG Y, SPICER TS, et al. Reverse Transcription Takes Place Within Extracellular HIV-1 Virions: Potential Biological Significance. AIDS Res Hum Retrovirus 1993; 9:1287-1296.

  80. GLUSCHANKOF P, MONDOR I, GELDERBLOM HR, et al. Cell Membrane Vesicles are a Major Contaminant of Gradient-Enriched Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1 Preparations. Virology 1997; 230:125-133.

  81. BESS JW, GORELICK RJ, BOSCHE WJ, et al. Microvesicles are a Source of Contaminating Cellular Proteins Found in Purified HIV-1 Preparations. Virology 1997; 230:134-144.

  82. KOVAL TM. Stress-Inducible Processes in Higher Eukaryotic Cells. New York: Plenum Press, 1997: 256.

  83. GIRALDO RA. AIDS and Stressors I: Worldwide Rise of Immunological Stressors. In: AIDS and Stressors. Medellín: Impresos Begón, 1997: 23-56.

  84. GIRALDO RA. Polemica Cientifica Internacional Acerca de la Causa del SIDA. Investigacion y Educacion en Enfermeria (University of Antioquia, Colombia) 1996; 14(2):55-74.

  85. GIRALDO RA. Papel de Estresantes Inmunologicos en Inmunodeficiencia. IATREIA (University of Antioquia, School of Medicine, Colombia) 1997; 10:62-76.

  86. GIRALDO RA. AIDS and Stressors: AIDS in Neither an Infectious Disease nor is Sexually Transmitted. It is a Toxic-Nutritional Syndrome Caused by the Alarming Worldwide Increment of Immunological Stressor Agents. Medellín, Colombia: Impresos Begón, 1997: 205.

  87. GIRALDO RA. AIDS in Neither an Infectious Disease nor is Sexually Transmitted. In: AIDS and Stressors. Medellín: Impresos Begón, 1997: 175-187.

  88. GIRALDO RA. Everybody Reacts Positive on the ELISA Test for HIV. Continuum (London) 1999; 5(5):8-10.

  89. GIRALDO RA, ELLNER M, FARBER C, et al. Is it Rational to Treat or Prevent AIDS with Toxic Antiretroviral Drugs in Pregnant Women, Infants, Children, and Anybody Else? The Answer is Negative. Continuum (London) 1999; 5(6): 38-52.

  90. METLAS R, et al. Human Immunodeficiency Virus V3 Peptide-Reactive Antibodies are Present in Normal HIV-Negative Sera. AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses 1999; 15: 671-677.

  91. MORIMOTO R, TISSIERES A, GEORGOPOULOS C. Stress Proteins in Biology and Medicine. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press 1990: 450.

  92. SCHLESINGER MJ, SANTORO MG, GARACI E. Stress Proteins: Induction and Function. Berlin: Springer-Verlag 1990: 123.

  93. VAN EDEN W, YOUNG DB. Stress Proteins in Medicine. New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc. 1996: 578.

  94. LATCHMAN DS. Stress Proteins. Springer, 1999: 422