tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387032041207882198.post5696634323020618682..comments2023-03-21T07:58:16.427-04:00Comments on humanmilkpatentpending: Part-5 HIV & BreastfeedingValerie W. McClainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14926776029719391924noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387032041207882198.post-13517831292604493382008-08-14T17:11:00.000-04:002008-08-14T17:11:00.000-04:00I guess that's what "confirmation" means. "You don...I guess that's what "confirmation" means. "You don't trust test A?", "Well, Test B gives the same results, amazing, huh?". "You don't trust test B?", "Well, test A gives the same results!".<BR/><BR/>Reproducibility (two tests giving the same results) is not to be confused with Sensitivity (reacting positively when the thing in question is present) and Specificity (not reacting positively when the thing in question is not present).<BR/><BR/>The problem with specificity and sensitivity is that you need a 'gold standard' to prove unambiguously that the thing in question is present. With a virus this means purification.David Crowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02618345448612754146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387032041207882198.post-79986805245165650802008-07-29T08:10:00.000-04:002008-07-29T08:10:00.000-04:00Dave,I read in a number of documents while researc...Dave,<BR/>I read in a number of documents while researching OraSure that the saliva OraQuick test can be validated by the blood OraQuick test. And vice versa...And OraSure also makes the OraSure Western Blot which is used for validation, too. ValerieValerie W. McClainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14926776029719391924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387032041207882198.post-31359744539117285952008-07-28T18:03:00.000-04:002008-07-28T18:03:00.000-04:00Similar disclaimers are found on most HIV tests. T...Similar disclaimers are found on most HIV tests. The tests are 'validated' (ironic quotes) through complex reasoning in the hope that by you get to the end of the chain of logic you won't realize it's not grounded anywhere.<BR/><BR/>Rapid tests like OraSure/OraQuick are validated by ELISA which is validated by Western Blot. And Western Blot is taken as the gospel. Unless you're negative and they don't think you are, in which case maybe there'll be a viral load test (validated by comparison with antibody tests like ELISA).<BR/><BR/>It's total scientific garbage. Thanks for raising the issue on your blog.David Crowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02618345448612754146noreply@blogger.com