Episode 103: How Infected Are You? – Electron Microscopy Could Find You Are ‘HIV Negative’ After All, Says Dr. David Rasnick at How Positive Are You

«« previous episode next episode »»

Episode 103: How Infected Are You? – Electron Microscopy Could Find You Are ‘HIV Negative’ After All, Says Dr. David Rasnick

October 14th, 2015

Episode 103: How 'Infected' Are You? - Dr. David Rasnick Says Electron Microscopy Could Prove You Are 'HIV Negative' After All [ 1 h 00 min 00 s | 27.47 MB ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (986)

A positive “HIV test” is a life-shattering event. Therefore, test accuracy matters – and Dr. David Rasnick is doing something about it. His biotech startup, Viral Forensics, will soon offer “HIV positives” with recent “viral load” results a glimpse of their blood under an electron microscope. Does it contain “particles resembling HIV”?

Consider a viral load result that comes up in the millions. With this many particles in your blood, “we should be able to see it,” says Dr. David Rasnick. If they don’t . . . are you ready for this? . . . you may not be infected at all.

This historic effort will similarly verify the accuracy of other PCR-based diagnostic tests, such as those for hepatitis C and the human papilloma virus (HPV), widely advertised to cause cervical cancer.

Says Dr. Rasnick: “In every case of a pathological organism — that I know of anyway — you can find that organism directly in the person” – except for HIV and HCV. The tests for these infections are indirect, finding non-specific antibodies or bits of genetic material but not actual virus. “The tests really ought to be taken off the shelf, they ought to be banned; they do more harm than good.”

“There’s only a tiny subset of people that are going to have the courage to go after this,” facing down skeptical doctors, hospitals and legal systems, he says. In a break from the usual, easy-sleazy, quick HIV testing the mainstream offers, customers will have to “do their homework,” and Dr. Rasnick is busy creating the Web site to educate them. Viral Forensics will even offer a blog where people can share their stories and questions. We’ll link to the site as soon as it’s up.

Electron microscopy blood analysis is partially covered under many U.S. insurance plans, under CPT code 88348.

REFERRALS: “How Positive Are You” can direct you to on an advance waiting list for this service. We expect to collect a commission on our referrals, which you can waive without getting a discount. We’d appreciate your support of our vital work informing you of potentially lifesaving services. Write to Viral Forensics at howpositiveareyou@viralforensics.com [e-mail address updated December 4, 2015].

David and Beth also discuss a recent article on mainstream AIDS site “The Body” presenting several surprisingly “dissident” arguments, including a proposal to “retire the medical category of AIDS.” As David comments, the author, Todd Heywood, was “forced to confront the inconsistencies in the whole HIV/AIDS paradigm,” when he became seriously ill even while taking the medications and showing a low viral load. Alas, he recommends renaming whatever-it-is “HIV disease.” Is there any way out of this circular reasoning?