The COVID19 PCR Test: Facts, Oddities & other Discrepancies [19/02/21]

Are common human coronaviruses causing mild respiratory and self – limiting symptoms, being presented and reported under the guise of SARS CoV-2?

This article relates to the validity of Australian PCR testing of the viral pathogen SARS CoV-2, resulting in a worldwide pandemic of symptoms or disease known as COVID-19. RT-PCR gene targets SARS CoV-2 will be discussed, SARS CoV-2 case definitions and finally addressing the validity of such testing.

“Common Sense Pathology” (published 8^th May 2020) supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and was developed by the Royal College of Pathologists of Australia & supported by Australian Doctor Group. “Common Sense Pathology” describes the rudiments of the RT-PCR, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction test utilised in the “detection” of SARS CoV-2 / COVID-19. https://www.rcpa.edu.au

The rudimentary procedure of the RT-PCR test is (1) a nasopharyngeal and throat swab is collected. (2) viral RNA is extracted and converted to complimentary DNA by reverse transcriptase for testing. (3) The PCR test involves using one or more “specific” primers  that are able to bind to “virus-specific” sequences on the cDNA and then repeatedly copying (amplifying) a target sequence / gene.

It is important to note the introduction of this article clearly defines COVID-19 is caused by the virus SARS CoV-2.  SARS CoV-2 is the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. In other words, COVID-19 is the terminology used for non- specific symptoms, not peculiar to SARS CoV-2 or any other pathogen. COVID-19 being one or more symptoms is NOT transmissible nor contagious!

In Australia SARS CoV-2 testing is performed in pathology laboratories using Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, RT-PCR.  The RT-PCR tests only for the presence amino acid / protein sequences of viral RNA, NOT a whole virus. That is RT-PCR testing does not culture any whole viable virus.

The Public Health Laboratory Network (PHLN), under the auspices of the Australian Government – Department of Health have developed a standard case definition for the diagnosis of diseases which are notifiable in Australia, that is laboratory case definitions for diagnosis of communicable diseases, (page last updated on the 10^th of October 2020). www1.health.gov.au

Note: there is NO laboratory case definition for (SARS CoV-2 / COVID-19 / Human coronavirus with pandemic potential). SARS CoV is listed!  Surely during a global pandemic of SARS CoV-2, sending more than 1000² individuals to a merciless death, there must be a laboratory case definition.

The Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA), summarises recommendations for surveillance, infection control, laboratory testing and contact management for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). www1.health.gov.au

From page 6, section 2 of the above CDNA publication

2. The disease.

Infectious agent

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the infective agent that

causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus that was

first identified in humans in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. SARS-CoV-2 shares 79.6%

sequence identity to SARS-CoV-1 ⁽¹⁾

Reference (1) from the above CDNA publication reference list is – 1. Chang D, Xu H, Rebaza A, Sharma L, Dela Cruz CS. Protecting health-care workers from subclinical coronavirus infection. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. 2020;8(3):e13

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Information from reference (1) is as follows – “Group A infections—a category reserved for highly infectious pathogens, such as cholera and plague. WHO confirmed 8098 cases and 774 (9·6%) deaths during the SARS outbreak in 2002, of which health-care workers accounted for 1707 (21%) cases.”

This reference is also noted on the CDNA publication, page 13 –

4. Cases Definition

Confirmed case – A confirmed case requires laboratory definitive evidence.

Laboratory definitive evidence:

1. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 by nucleic acid testing¹ ; OR ………….

Note: the reference, Chang D, Xu H, Rebaza A, Sharma L, Dela Cruz CS. Protecting health-care workers from subclinical coronavirus infection. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. 2020;8(3):e13, has no information regarding the nucleic acid testing of SARS CoV-2. This reference labels COVID-19 as the novel coronavirus.

This opposes the CDNA publication, page 6 – “Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the infective agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).”

COVID-19 a term making reference to non-specific symptoms.

The Public Health Laboratory Network Statement on Asymptomatic Testing for SARS-CoV-2 – 6 August 2020.  “Diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) is vital to containing the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.”

www.health.gov.au

www.health.gov.au

Page 2 – “RT-PCR tests are the gold standard for diagnostic SARS-CoV-2 testing in Australia. Available evidence for the reliability of RT-PCR tests mainly comes from symptomatic patients. The test’s clinical role in detecting asymptomatic carriers is still unclear given these in vitro diagnostic devices were not designed for screening.”

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