I tested positive for SARS-CoV-2

Recently I tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. In this video I explain how the PCR test was done, what the Ct value that I received means, and why I was not worried about the result.
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- Who Am I? -
I’m Vincent Racaniello, Earth’s Virology Professor.
I’m also a professor of virology at Columbia University in New York. I’ve been doing research on viruses since 1976, and teaching virology in classrooms and online since 1999. On this KZbin channel I share videos of my lectures, podcasts, and more.
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#microbe #viruses #coronavirus #pandemic
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[@zumamaya2396]

How can anyone give a thumbs down to this very clear description of the test. I've heard it described numerous times. As a layman this is the best I've heard.

[@JosephNine]

IT'S THE ONES THAT DON'T WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THE TRUTH AND WANT YOU TO FOLLOW THEIR NARRATIVE ?

[@didyuknow]

There is way too much truth and it does not fit the narratives, hence the negatives.

[@flagmichael]

A lot of people don't have much patience for deeply technical talk. We all have our limits; as a techie I found it interesting. If I had spent that much time and found it was really about a musical group I would probably have given it a thumb down.

[@wdhewson]

Thanks Vincent, intellectual honesty is always appreciated

[@wileydog2011]

🏆🥇 You deserve an award for TWIV’s role in public education on COVID-19. Stay healthy.

[@tiberio1352]

Doctor.....a gem of a video. Thank you for your courage to post it.

[@danasher485]

So WHY is no one calling attention to the fact that the majority of all PCR tests done in the US are at 40+ CT values? This is a scam of the highest order.

[@solarwind907]

Not sure what you’re really talking about. They stop the test at 40 cycles if there’s no signal. If most people tested do not have cOVID-19, then they are going to have CT scores of 40 or higher. Don’t understand the scam at all. Not sure if you actually watch the whole video but if you didn’t, you may want to. This professor is very good at explaining complex things. I wish every teacher I ever had was as good.

[@danasher485]

@@solarwind907 every test in the US is run at 37-45 cycles. Fauci says anything over 35 is just dead virus, ie not infectious. All public health lockdowns are based on positive case numbers, from tests that are run from 37-45 cycles, meaning majority of false positives. That’s called a clue. This isn’t the first I’ve heard of it, I’ve read studies on it, and heard other experts talking about it. The whole pandemic now rests on the PCR tests which are spitting out false positives left and right, and all they report is “Positive” or “Negative”, they never send over at what cycle the test was set to.

[@davidbarboza9224]

@@solarwind907 i

[@SHREDTILLDEAD]

@@solarwind907 Does it test specifically for sars covid 2 or just an older strain of coronavirus?

[@solarwind907]

@@danasher485 no, every test does not have results that are between 37 and 45. The video you just watched stated Vincent's was 34.7 for example. I know of people having Ct values of 13 or less which means they are basically a Covid 19 manufacturing facility and infectious as hell. Fauci probably said that if you're 35+ you're probably not infectious because you don't have much virus to share (higher Ct value= lower viral load). The virus has spread to just about everywhere but maybe Antarctica right now. If all the results were between 37 and 45 in the US then there is no reason they would not be between 37 and 45 all over the world. I guess that would make it a worldwide conspiracy to give everyone at least 2 weeks off work. Don't worry about any conspiracy and the pcr testing being a scam. Wear a mask and avoid large groups especially indoors as much as possible. If we all do that we will definitely limit the spread and business will be able to open safely sooner. Here's a link to a chart that was in the video. It may help a little. twitter.com/DanielGriffinMD/status/1321867994029580288/photo/1 The purple line shows the viral load shooting up at the Detectable Viral Replication phase. It peaks and then drops after about 4 days when the symptoms start (if you're not asymptomatic). stay curious and healthy,

[@nanduduleah9231]

Thank you for explaining how to interpret ct values.

[@raegangouker2502]

You are AMAZING. EVERYONE needs to watch this video! Great work seriously

[@zazzy7681]

Hope you and the family are doing well. Wishing you a speedy recovery, from England, UK.

[@FoilingFrenzy]

Stay well Vincent. We need your truth and insight. 💪

[@RussCR5187]

Many of these comments reveal that the person didn't even watch the video. He's not sick, people!

[@Aloneagainofcourse]

I knew that. I just didn't want him to experience that mile long cue tip shoved up his nose.

[@RussCR5187]

@Angela MH "there’s a lot going on right now." Fine, but then again the important lesson of the video would have been missed, after Vincent went to the effort of providing it.

[@WilliamAshleyOnline]

We'll it is statistically unlikely he was sick, but it is also possible that his immune system was able to fight off covid before it was able to replicate. Perhaps he has native immunity due to previously having a corona virus and was one of the partial immunity people, or had previous vacination for tb or other partial immunity vaccines that exist. None the less, he wasn't seemingly sheding much virus when he was tested, and did not have any present in his sample site. However two tests does not discount that the first test was correct as much as it is possible in a false positive he could have tested false negative in the second test. The take away point is that you may need a number of tests to proove negative, as long covid has recurrent infection where people test both positive and negative. As the virus may be dormant in fat cells he may have low level long covid infection... but without any symptoms it would be impossible to know. Statistically speaking thouhg it is unlikely he was infected but it is not impossible, just very unlikely. There are a few weird aspects of covid that people can be negative and positive in different parts of the body. A nasal swab after the nose stopped being a production site wouldn't provide for a very good sample. That said, not likely, but still possible. BUT the important thing to remember is that he is the professor and I am just some dude, why would he lie about being negative????

[@RussCR5187]

@@WilliamAshleyOnline Yes, I can certainly agree that there are details about this virus that we don't yet understand, and also that the tests are not perfect. But there is, perhaps, one thing we can agree on. A person gets INFECTED with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and then may or may not become ILL (i.e., sick with clinical symptoms) with Covid-19. At the time of the video, he was not sick. Thanks for your comment, William. Have a great day.

[@solarwind907]

@Angela MH If you haven’t watch the video why would you bother to comment on it? Makes no sense.

[@pedroorpheus]

Keep well. Been addicted to your podcasts since March, and your online lecture series is brilliant, even for a for a struggling layperson.

[@ManuelMartinez-ex1nc]

OMG, thankfully you are doing well... hopefully you never severely or moderately sick, you are literally a legend prof for much of us the only virology prof in medical schools in Latin America. Have been following ever since 3rd edition, all the best and thank you for your awesome courses. Not many prof can explain a complicated issue in such cool, simple manner, and keeping yourself artfully technical without trashing science language. All the best doc. Could you make a comment of the CRISPER based dx reported in the NEJM. THANK YOU AND KEEP HEALTHY AND TEACHING FOR MORE DECADES!!

[@junviatorlifeingermany1836]

Big fan of your channel and podcast! Thanks for educating us. I am learning a lot.

[@markadams8041]

I tested positive, quit alcohol, took pharmaceutical vitamin D and drank ten pint sized glasses water every day. No hard work outs, push mower and light weight weed whacker. Lawn on our compound looked world class during the 2 weeks quarantine period.

[@Demarcussykeshwh]

Hey. Serious question.. Are you still alive?

[@omniatomic2528]

Thank you for taking the time to explain and break down on such a comprehensive level.

[@mycathoderay]

All the best wishes, Vincent! Get well soon!

[@nidhibharani1886]

Thanks so much for the explanation. You are the most calm person who has been tested positive that I know! :D

[@marklemont3735]

False positive result confirmed by PCR has that effect.

[@vivienh4851]

Professor, hope all is well! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 Edit: I finished the video and it was a long “phew.” Oh my goodness was I scared. Thank you for the detailed explanation! I probably missed TWIV’s explanation on Ct values and this video and the link are very helpful!

[@salminwamu2297]

What about prions

[@chemistryinstruments7156]

Great short summary of test, much obliged.

[@defacto_8840]

Thank you, learning about Ct values was enlightening !

[@monykalynf3604]

This was extremely informative and easy to follow!! thank you

[@nicoroehr]

Being quite broke the only thing I can do is to put this video as top link on my own small website. We should spread the word about this channel, everywhere, anywhere and to anywhom. These informations need to get out to the people. I live in both Western Germany and on Mallorca, and there are still many, many people around me who are misinformed about this virus and viruses in general. Good health to you, Vincent Racaniello, hope for the best

[@psalm1197]

nicoroehr I hope you are watching Ivor Cummins and also Dr Mike Yeadon.....

[@nicoroehr]

@@psalm1197 I also do not watch Disney videos

[@flynchflynch]

Watching from over in England. Good luck in getting through this. Amazing weekly podcasts and they are helping public and health professionals alike. Well done !

[@flynchflynch]

@@TonyFisherPuzzles having been infected with COVID, to be honest I thought that would have been obvious in the context of the video

[@Selenelion]

@@flynchflynch Not to spoil anything, but watch until the end

[@phoenixdundee]

I'm guessing someone just reads the video title and then comments ... oops.

[@flynchflynch]

@@TonyFisherPuzzles My bad ! Happy to admit it :) To be honest I was really distracted as I was following the US election at the same time! Serious ! Happy its a false positive :)

[@flynchflynch]

@@Selenelion My bad ! Happy to admit it :) To be honest I was really distracted as I was following the US election at the same time! Serious ! Happy its a false positive :)

[@pault54]

this podcast deserves to go viral !

[@celosiapigeon]

Stay safe and negative and 'grumpy', you are so appreciated! (From Canada)

[@DIYDaveT]

"Stay safe", oh please enough virtue signalling. Stay safe is the new greeting from the mentally ill left.

[@miskaknapek]

Thanks for explaining - great visual explanation too! - take good care!

[@AK-nw7tr]

Dia duit. Helpful details if end up getting tested. Thanks again for educating the world.

[@StephenCaron]

Thank you. That explanation was very helpful.

[@mrm3900]

Thank you for the comprehensive explanation. You and your contributions to public education are priceless! Stay well!

[@pamatya]

In Nazi Germany, scientists and doctors were in alliance with the church and the state. Hitler was a puppet of the Catholic Church. Jews were considered a "plague". Sanitary Policies were applied with the pseudo-scientific basis of "Eugenics". Today, the World Health Organization is in alliance with the state and the church. They obey the Pope, who said "vaccinations should be for everyone"... They are indoctrinating many people into constant sanitization. Might not look so important BUT it is a seed of animosity, division, distrust and hate that was also present in Nazi Germany. Asymptomatics, in other words, healthy people, can be seen as contagious. This is a gradual social mechanism and it is the same modus operandi utilized in Hitler's Germany. This is very important: THE DOCTRINE WHICH IS BEING IMPOSED THROUGH THIS "HEALTH CRISIS" (where 99% survive) is "THE COMMON GOOD", A FASCIST CATHOLIC DOCTRINE! The rights of the INDIVIDUAL, which are protected in the Constitution, demand among other things the freedom of cult and liberty of conscience. This was obtained through the blood of MILLIONS of people, including millions of Christians (Protestants)The Church HATES this Do not underestimate the Pope's declarations. Most politicians in the world belong to Masonry, which is an Ecclesiastic Organization. The Pope is a Mason and a Jesuit. They obey and revere the Pope, they bow in front of him and kiss his ring. The church is always behind Through this crisis, and like Nazi Germany, a separation is occuring with the VACCINE. Vaccination through a rushed, experimental inocculation of human beings is being pushed vehemently and it is the strong component of the pseudo-scientific "herd immunity". In Nazi Germany, pseudo-scientific theories were also taking part: Jews were tested for their "race" and could not mix with German people because that would produce the declination and disappearance of the superior "Aryan" race. Those tests would came back "positive". The inventor of PCR test, Kary Mullis, who died in 2019, especifically mentioned that his test "does not tell you that you are sick" and that one could "find almost anything in anyone". This pandemic is one of a kind... involves false positives and healthy in quarantine.

[@TheBeijingbill]

Thanks for the down to earth explanation. One really knows their business when they can turn it into a bedtime story.

[@genesis650]

Glad you are well. Great video for understanding PCR.

[@johnbouttell5827]

Thanks Vincent. That was very helpful. I learned a lot. Best wishes, John in the Peak District.

[@user-nx6ji9tk8i]

Excellent. Judging from the comments, you need to have this on a constant repeat, til folks understand. Here in UK ct values not available on our Pillar 2 tests, which our brainless lot let influence our 'policy' ( aka blunders ) Really appreciate these informative presentations available to anyone. Great to have a trusted, specialist info stream amidst all the 'noise'.

[@johnkeepin7527]

Spot on. I would say that any test result is not valid if no Ct value is quoted. Strong suspicion that certain organisations are deliberately using high numbers to create flawed results. Also, later in this item is a useful of timing between infection and test time. The timing of when it’s done is generally brushed over by the usual suspects. In the real world, many of the so-called positive results are probably wrong w.r.t. anyone being a risk to a third party at all.

[@user-nx6ji9tk8i]

TWiV and Michael Mina have been spelling this out for several months. But I fear the Boris UK Moonshot here will still miss the point and the public remain awash with hyperbole. Funny our foreign Sec isolating after a contact alert and no daily rapid tests available for him! No comment.

[@dougaltolan3017]

As part of a national strategy a Ct value is chosen as a threshold value. The subjects do not need to know this threshold, just as they do not need to know the reasons for its value. The threshold is a compromise between accuracy, disruption, containment. At that level it is *all* statistics and politics. A simple case. Say you can (as a government) choose between: missing 50% of positive cases but only have 5% false positives Or missing only 5% of positive cases but have 50% false positives. You need to choose between aggressive containment at the cost of some needless confinement or fewer false positives but with longer need for restrictions for everyone.

[@johnkeepin7527]

@@dougaltolan3017 Might depend where you are, but this WHO notice may be of interest: www.who.int/news/item/14-12-2020-who-information-notice-for-ivd-users Note the 5 points under it’s ‘advice on action to be taken by users’.

[@user-nx6ji9tk8i]

Ha ha. IT,s great to see how they,ve got the numbers down!! ? But so many key workers isolating ( unnecessarily? ) workers staying home/ not able to stay home / can,t afford to isolate ...... Think I,ll stop writing intelligent comments. You don,t state your background. I,m ex NHS retired. Happy C,mas from blockaded UK.

[@milliew2676]

Great explanation of both the PCR process and the meaning of Ct values. Its so much clearer to me now.

[@marg716]

I agree. Very helpful "case study." And many thanks to Earth's Viro Prof. for continuing to share info and educate.

[@danasher485]

Most tests in the US and world are done with 37-45 CT values. Why is no one calling attention to this? They are shutting down economies based on positive tests of 37+.

[@monykalynf3604]

@@danasher485 I would REALLY love to know the CT values now too!! Why isn't this more available at a public health level?

[@danasher485]

@@monykalynf3604 I think I know, but might sound like a tin foil hat guy. Probably has something to do with money, control, and governments never admitting they are wrong.

[@carlosgallina-ramos3881]

Excellent as always. Thank you. I normally listen to the podcast(s) on my drive to and from work. And actually seen the graph was really nice. Thanks to Dr Griffin as well. Always nice to listen to his updates; I had been wanting to take a look at the graph, but forgot which episode it was from :(. Two birds with one stone with this video. happy days :)

[@philipbaldassini9528]

Professor I hope your okay, and I have done a few swaps as an EMT; just hope your okay and reach out if you need anything, love TWIV and keep being viral

[@nosenabookUSA]

Thanks particularly for explaining why a LOW Ct number indicates HIGH amounts of virus, and vice versa. That was puzzling me.

[@markschlehr6911]

High amounts of a particular PORTION of an airborne virus. If I'm walking past a restaurant and smell hamburgers everyday, do I have whole hamburgers in my nose or just the part my sense of smell picks up? You know the answer.

[@ShaneClough]

@@markschlehr6911 lmao Mark you idiot... PCR doesn't detect viral RNA because that's the only part of the virus that's in your nose/throat. When you are swabbed the entire SARS CoV2 virus is on the swab. Then, during sample preparation a series of Lysis and Wash buffers are mixed with the sample to break apart the virus and extract only the viral RNA. This is because PCR needs DNA in order to work, and we can make cDNA from the viral RNA that we extract from the sample. There isn't just random viral RNA floating around, detached from the rest of the virus.

[@rhuiden4086]

@@ShaneClough Stop spreading disinfo. Even the WHO says PCR tests are picking up too many false postives due to use of high ct values.www.who.int/news/item/14-12-2020-who-information-notice-for-ivd-users

[@dallysinghson5569]

That doesnt make PCR useless, just set the parameters to get ypur pos but set it low enough so that you minimise false pos.

[@user-gu5iv2mr6e]

Watching from Portugal. Great explanation! People please don't consume the tabloid style news media. Get your information from proper independent sources like TWiV.

[@tiberio1352]

G....POrtugal in a 34 page decision from the courts found PCR tests 97% unreliable. www.rt.com/op-ed/507937-covid-pcr-test-fail/

[@cyndirobinson2135]

Is that a phage on the pillow behind you? I had read about them as super fighters for antibiotic resistant bugs.

[@baghiballsakh82]

@@tiberio1352 The judges are in trouble over this. Their decision was illegal, they were not competent to accept that process, let alone make a decision on it.. (Translated) _The Superior Council for the Judiciary, the regulating body of judges, will take to plenary the judgment signed by two judges on confinement in the Azores. Judges are subject to prosecution._ observador.pt/2020/11/18/juizas-da-relacao-que-apreciaram-confinamento-nos-acores-levam-processo-disciplinar/ More here (Translated) _Judges from the Lisbon Court of Appeal misread two scientific articles and the scientific consensus on PCRs is “absolute”, experts react._ www.publico.pt/2020/11/17/sociedade/noticia/juizas-fazem-leitura-errada-artigos-cientificos-poe-causa-fiabilidade-testes-covid19-1939616

[@MTXSHO9732vV8SHO]

The USA is Bizzaro-land. Sociopaths and Flat Earther Birthers toting assault rifles

[@tchevrier]

​@@tiberio1352 And that is a completely wrong interpretation of what the court said and what the paper "Jaafar et al" stated. Neither the paper the the judge cited nor what the judge said indicated that the PCR tests were 97% unreliable. That is the narrative portrayed in social media but it is incorrect. The paper cited is the same one in this video. It clearly stated that the probability of being infectious was 3% for ONLY those cases with a ct above 35. Not all of the cases. And only 2.5 % of all the cases have ct values above 35. As for the judge, he made some incorrect interpretations of what the study indicated. First he stated that if a person tests positive with a ct value above 35 that the odds of the person being infected was only 3%. That is wrong. The odds of somebody being Infectious is 3%. Not "infected." Second, he incorrectly assumed that a high ct value meant a false positive. And again as explained in this video that is only 1 explanation for a high ct value.

[@salminwamu2297]

Such a great virologist, wishing you all the best from Tanzania

[@resulgokberkelgin9863]

God bless you sir. I hope you are and will be okay. Have a nice day professor!

[@michaelgalanos981]

The inventor of the PCR test said that this is not an accurate test for covid makes me wonder why is it still being used?

[@nguu6092]

He died before covid came to existence...But yes you are right, he did say pcr was not meant to use for viruses. RIP Kary Mullis.

[@morgantaylor517]

It's all they have.

[@andrewcsteen]

Thanks for a great explanation and I am very happy for you at the results of your test. You guys at TWIV have been a godsend.

[@eileenkast4982]

Thank you. Best explanation I've yet to see

[@BeMyStudyBudy]

Dear Prof. Vincent It was indeed informative as all of your previous videos..

[@rijamor]

Here in the UK there is great concern that the volume of testing, limited facilities for analysis and poor sample handling is causing large numbers of false positives. Several media undercover investigations have shown some pretty poor practice in the Labs bought about by the pressures to turnaround the volumes. It destroys public confidence.

[@landmarcmusicdotcom]

Take quercetin (with bromelain) 500 mg twice a day; zinc 25 mg once a day, vitamin C 1000 mg once a day

[@edjackson4986]

You forgot vitamin D3 10,000 international units

[@ellyw7201]

Why do you suggest quercetin *with bromelain*? (I haven't heard this recommended before.)

[@landmarcmusicdotcom]

@@ellyw7201 bromelain helps you absorb Quercetin better.

[@Ivan-bt4lr]

Thanks for a VERY informative easy understandable dissemination. I have seen a lot of talks in my academic time, but this was surely in the best end :-).

[@ellyw7201]

Hello Vincent Racaniello, this is my first time watching one of your videos. Looking forward to hearing what you have to say, but -- I can't stop laughing at the throw pillow with the bacteriophage on your couch in the background!

[@anouarelhachadi6817]

ًMuch admiration and respect from Morocco stay safe Professor!!

[@freedomofspeech2855]

A khoya shoof al video djal Prof. Dr. John Ioannidis, Prof. Dr. Knut Wittkowski, Prof. Dr. Dolores Cahill, Prof. Dr. Sucharit Bhakdi, Prof. Dr. Dr. Martin Haditsch, Dr. Dan Erickson and Dr. Artin Massihi.

[@anouarelhachadi6817]

@@freedomofspeech2855 مرحبا! I will IA!

[@TheBobbymcd]

keep safe from what? why is everyone saying stay safe these days? is it to do with the made up covid that was designed to keep us inour place ,stop us from seeing even our familys and each other? if you are brainwashed by covid then look up 'the great reset'

[@weberangela]

Thank goodness Vincent. I'm glad to hear it was a false positive. Love all the work you have been doing to keep us informed during this pandemic.

[@jamescaley9942]

False positive is a double edge sword. It means you could still be susceptible and the virus is not going away any time soon, it is endemic. A true positive with no symptoms is in some ways better. Testing has very limited value when the virus is already endemic and the test is giving a binary result that is not a good guide to infectivity. Asymptomatic transmission is not the driver of epidemics. People might even be spreading it by going to test centres.

[@user-nx6ji9tk8i]

See Michael Mina on timings for testing that capture infection. The Diamond Princess data also addresses your comments on households. Infectivity and susceptibility / immunity are all discussed on TWiV.... These guys and gals are fantastic.

[@user-nx6ji9tk8i]

Vincent is a virology expert working his socks off to educate us using evidence based science. I see a bunch of conspiracy theorists have jumped on board. Vincent is explaining the shortcomings of testing so we can interpret data correctly. It will stop us all from being mislead if we pay attention to what he is saying. Trust these guys on TWiV.

[@operalove7221]

Very interesting and accessible. Helpful information. Glad you are ok. Thank you.

[@hackingthehumantimemachine9360]

A Truly excellent presentation Vincent!

[@SW-ci9zv]

Helpful and informative explanation. The other aspect that crops up in connection with the pcr test is that Kary Mullis seems to have suggested that it was NOT a test for infectious disease, but a tool for lab study. In addition there is the question "Has the virus been isolated in the first instance?" So much conflicting views on that.

[@jasong5696]

I was asking same question but this seems to be there idea of isolation is a pcr test lol

[@tchevrier]

facepalm. First with respect to your Kary Mullis comment. He didn't invent the test, he invented the PCR process. Second, So what? So what if the guy who developed the PCR technique said it isn't to be used this way. Taking existing technology and applying it to new applications is kind of a hallmark of science. He doesn't have exclusive right to determine what it can and cannot be used for. Third, he didn't say that. Yes the virus has been isolated many times. here is one of many articles sunnybrook.ca/research/media/item.asp?i=2069

[@jasong5696]

@@tchevrier no one has isolated the virus properly

[@Gregg0Palmer]

Can you make another video that assumes the opposite case, someone tested and found truly positive? What are the key pieces of knowledge someone should know if they just tested positive (either symptomatic or asymptomatic)?

[@mediterraneandiet2483]

A strong immune system is the best defence against infections. *kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGqUdmyJpK6IftE

[@shawnmckenzie1786]

Thank you for the presentation. Well done.

[@solarwind907]

Vincent, you are a public servant. In the truest sense of the word. That may be the noblest profession there is. I hope you have many healthy happy years ahead of you.

[@karenechow]

I also want to know if you'll get an antibody test. I'm glad you're okay :) Thanks for educating us.

[@TekAutomatica]

If there's no virus to fight, unlikely antibodies around

[@TekAutomatica]

If there's no virus to fight, unlikely antibodies around

[@Allyourheroswenttohell]

There's a reason they don't use the anti body test as a standard way of testing. They have to drive the numbers up.

[@teukels]

I am curious how the decimal portion in the CT value is found. If we measure after each cycle, one would think CT values can only be whole numbers 1 through 40. I suspect the same sample passes through the PCR machine multiple times?

[@rs1803]

A standard curve is included on each run. This is constructed by serially diluting known quantities of DNA, so the PCR machine knows what Ct value corresponds to copies of DNA i.e. y axis will be Ct & x axis DNA copies/ul. So when we are running our samples, the machine knows what fluorescent signal corresponds to quantity of DNA. A perfect standard curve will increase 10 fold each 3.3 cycles. I hope this makes sense!

[@rs1803]

Sorry, I should've added. That the threshold cycle (Ct) is the fractional PCR cycle that the fluorescence passes the background signal (threshold). So it's not necessarily whole numbers, as the machine measures fluorescence in real-time.

[@teukels]

Thank you so much. Let me check if I understood this correctly. Firstly, the PCR machine can quantify the fluorescence. The PCR machine references a measurement, a quantity of fluorescence, with a table of known values (the curve). So I imagine that, if the CT ends up being 34.7, the machine first detected fluorescence after N cycles, references the amount of fluorescence with the curve and it then tell us that for the observed quantity, the standardised amount of DNA would have taken 34.7 cycles to meet the detection threshold?

[@rs1803]

@@teukels Perfect. Couldn't have said it better myself.

[@svenbontinck8875]

R S thank you for this great explanation, I had the same question. 👍

[@hangpham7588]

thank for your post. Wish you all the best!

[@Jiddu88]

Nice pillow!! Big Thanks for sharing, Professor!! Very informative. :)

[@randmorf]

I think you forgot to mention in this video that you self-isolated (quarantined) yourself at home away from other family members between your first (positive) RT-PCR test and the second (negative) RT-PCR test. This is the behavior other people should practice to avoid infecting other family members should they test positive for COVID-19.

[@villebooks]

Most of 'the other people' have been staying at home, many even tested negative, nevertheless we have an increase in cases and it is legit, especially as a scientist, to ask what is the cause - and whether the technologies we use are really the best ones. I have my doubts. Just for collecting data for stats of institutes, my lifetime and the lives of the entire human race are too precious, not mentioned, that we are surrounded by billions of microbes and viruses. We have to cope with and take care of many other diseases at the same time. We can't test and stay at home forever just for the purpose of protection from 1 disease. Under these circumstances, it's not even clear, whether a quaratine period would exclude the factor of being infectious, according to some 'reliable' sources. We had more than 10 years of research on Coronaviridae since the outbreak of SARS 1 in 2002/3, now we live in an uncontrollable mess altogether, so something went really wrong, but no one wants to talk about it.

[@DennisMathias]

Well, I would think he would have isolated and not just quarantined.

[@stephens.9209]

@Jessica Rain City CT is an *inverse measure* For instance a positive test result after 12 rounds (for a CT value of 12) starts out with more than 10 million times as much viral genetic material as a sample with a CT value of 35...understand that a lower CT value is worse, not a higher CT value. INVERSE is the key word

[@user-nx6ji9tk8i]

He has NOT got Covid. He was NOT infectious. That was what he was trying to explain. Listen again!

[@jamescaley9942]

A lot of transmission is occurring in the household. At the same time in many cases people in the infectious stage are sharing households and have not infected their spouse or family. The assumption of 100% of people equally susceptible (until they are dead) is clearly false. Common sense says if you have symptoms then protect your family. Infectivity is apparently highest just after the onset of symptoms. A lot of the testing is probably a waste of time now it is endemic rather than the start of the epidemic. We need a better test that measures the viral load or infectivity risk instead of one which is binary and gives a positive result when it is really clinically insignificant. People will just ignore it, just as people ignore car alarms, burglar alarms or even fire alarms. The False Positive Paradox strikes again.

[@piggyroo100]

What a coincidence. My porch glider tested positive too!

[@lwaters3100]

So did a goat & a Pawpaw (fruit). Tanzania's president has scientific training

[@lora97006]

@@lwaters3100 yes, and unfortunately that President has now "died".

[@maymei6742]

@@lora97006 the 3 presidents that against vaccine are all dead Zambia, Haiti and Tanzania

[@lora97006]

@@maymei6742 I heard the count is up to 5...

[@2012Ravil]

Thank you very much for clear explanation and all your are doing to educate people!

[@coastwalker101]

Excellent explainer with evidence to back it up. Thanks Vincent.

[@Fahrenheit4051]

University: "Randomly" selects virologist for screening. Virologist: I see no problem here.

[@polmoncadapolmoncada6999]

Where is that please

[@pamatya]

In Nazi Germany, scientists and doctors were in alliance with the church and the state. Hitler was a puppet of the Catholic Church. Jews were considered a "plague". Sanitary Policies were applied with the pseudo-scientific basis of "Eugenics". Today, the World Health Organization is in alliance with the state and the church. They obey the Pope, who said "vaccinations should be for everyone"... They are indoctrinating many people into constant sanitization. Might not look so important BUT it is a seed of animosity, division, distrust and hate that was also present in Nazi Germany. Asymptomatics, in other words, healthy people, can be seen as contagious. This is a gradual social mechanism and it is the same modus operandi utilized in Hitler's Germany. This is very important: THE DOCTRINE WHICH IS BEING IMPOSED THROUGH THIS "HEALTH CRISIS" (where 99% survive) is "THE COMMON GOOD", A FASCIST CATHOLIC DOCTRINE! The rights of the INDIVIDUAL, which are protected in the Constitution, demand among other things the freedom of cult and liberty of conscience. This was obtained through the blood of MILLIONS of people, including millions of Christians (Protestants)The Church HATES this Do not underestimate the Pope's declarations. Most politicians in the world belong to Masonry, which is an Ecclesiastic Organization. The Pope is a Mason and a Jesuit. They obey and revere the Pope, they bow in front of him and kiss his ring. The church is always behind Through this crisis, and like Nazi Germany, a separation is occuring with the VACCINE. Vaccination through a rushed, experimental inocculation of human beings is being pushed vehemently and it is the strong component of the pseudo-scientific "herd immunity". In Nazi Germany, pseudo-scientific theories were also taking part: Jews were tested for their "race" and could not mix with German people because that would produce the declination and disappearance of the superior "Aryan" race. Those tests would came back "positive". The inventor of PCR test, Kary Mullis, who died in 2019, especifically mentioned that his test "does not tell you that you are sick" and that one could "find almost anything in anyone". This pandemic is one of a kind... involves false positives and healthy in quarantine.

[@Fahrenheit4051]

​@@pamatya I don't like the Catholic church. I would be one thing if they only had a dark past. But their present isn't great either, having shielded many pedophiles within their ranks from criminal prosecution. With that said, I think you're jumping to a lot of conclusions here about the culpability of the Catholic church in this matter. Freemasonry has long been seen as incompatible with the Catholic church. Some of your allegations of global conspiracy also sound eerily similar to those the Nazis used against the Jews. The Pope calling for the vaccine being available to everyone is merely him trying to signal that he cares about people's suffering, which is part of his job.

[@dallysinghson5569]

Nothing pseudoscientific about herd immunity, the scientific community doesnt dismiss it as ypu do so perhaps youre into pseudoscience? Also Karys criticism is basic and anyone with PCR experience under their belt knows the strengths and weaknesses.

[@clivejames7613]

Good explanation of the PCR. However in an ideal world we shouldn’t really be testing anyone.

[@joyfulstand7398]

@ Clive James - testing should be voluntary. Some of us live with elderly or known persons with low immunity, so we want to be tested to protect them. This would definitely be ideal. It's about choice!

[@neosmith3451]

@@joyfulstand7398 If testing is done properly then fair enough but currently the testing does not distinguish if you are a danger. The way it is being used can be very harmful in creating panic and stress. Here is a balanced explanation kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZCUi2uZiL18Y7M

[@anothercanucknoob4433]

Thank you tremendously for this valuable and informative educational video.

[@davewilson13]

I saw the title and was terrified. I know you’re very cautious.

[@whoever6458]

I'm glad it was a false positive but that first realization that you may have a potentially deadly disease is a pretty scary and unpleasant experience too. I remember when I first checked my temperature and realized that it was 100 F, especially considering my baseline is around 97.6 F and considering the fact that I had had a fever since I was a kid. I was pretty scared for a little while but then I realized that there was nothing I could do about it so being frightened wasn't going to help matters. I don't think I would have liked having a scare and having it be a false positive. At the time when I fell ill, there weren't any tests here so I can't absolutely confirm that I had COVID-19 but I have also never had an illness in which I lost my sense of smell, got pneumonia, experienced a really scary period of nearly uncontrollable inflammation and continued to remain sick for months so I don't know what else it could have possibly been. The disease is manageable overall for most people, but a lot more of us have some pretty tenuous days than I think any of us wants to think about.

[@mario123abc]

It is deadlier for over 70 years old (IFR from 0.6% to 1.6%). Bellow that is only 0.05%, according to WHO bulletin www.who.int/bulletin/online_first/BLT.20.265892.pdf

[@whoever6458]

@@mario123abc And that's exactly why everyone should take it seriously. We wouldn't want to kill our loved ones over 70. My mom is approaching 70 and she got seriously ill. I got sick taking care of her because I thought she had a regular cold since this was in February.

[@BibleRevelation2012]

For the lay person it's very challenging learning this new language especially as words like, virus, infection and case are very specific, yet at the same time appear to be used in more than one way. In New Zealand for example, a person is told they are a covid case if the PCR returns a positive result. However I've learned (and I hope I've got this right) that a "positive" result does not necessarily tell you that you are either infected with a Living virus, that this virus is vurilous enough to make you unwell, or that it is infectious to others. I understand that 5he reason for this is that if the PCR test finds any genetic fragment of the target RNA the test has been calibrated to look for, that this RNA (converted to DNA) must first be placed in laboratory cell Culture and observed to be is alive and growing, or dead on arrival. But yet the government announce new covid "cases" every day based on the PCR... which cannot tell us if the recipient has a living virus in them, much less whether its strong enough to cause symptoms in the host or able to be passed on to others. But hey, we're calling it a covid case so lets tally up all the covid cases ("case" brings to mind, people SICK with covid and SPREADING it to others) and then announce it to the nation. Truth is that of the total number of people testing "positive" through the PCR alone, maybe half only had dead viral matter in them and not a living virus, capable of spreading it to others

[@suyashharsh5100]

Get well soon Sir, I am from India and following u from last 6 years

[@dwinsemius]

Great stuff! Still relevant as an example of interpreting ambiguous lab results.

[@darkbluematter1753]

Thank you for this clear explanation of PCR testing. Glad it was a false positive.

[@tyholden]

So how prevailent would you say these false positives are as so much hinges on their results ?

[@sunshinestar2244]

BORIS JOHNSON N DOMINIC RABB IN THD UK SAID ONLY 7% OF PEOPLE TESTED ACTUALLY HAVE THE VIRUS..SO A MASSIVE 93% ARE FALSE POSITVES..THIS IS A CRIMINAL OFFENCE AGAINST HUMANITY.

[@dougohboy5190]

covid19 has never been isolated, the PCR test is not for virus testing ...it has 85 to 100% false/pos error rates its a fukn Sham-demic based on a false/pos Case-demic to restructure humanity into a transhumanist agenda = total control...

[@solarwind907]

@@dougohboy5190 if you mean its genome was never sequenced, that’s incorrect. That’s pretty much the first thing they did back in January. Or if you prefer, this virus is a plot thought up by Bill Gates and Hillary so they can take over the world.

[@solarwind907]

@Double u OohEnA Does that matter? If you're saying that SARS CoV-2 does not cause Covid-19, let us know what does. Do your research, publish your results, hopefully some other labs will be able to replicate your results.

[@solarwind907]

@Double u OohEnA wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/10/20-1800_article On January 10, 2020, the first SARS-CoV-2 genome sequence was released online (7). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32333222/ Phylogenetic analysis of full-length genome sequences obtained from infected patients showed that SARS-CoV-2 is similar to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and uses the same cell entry receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), as SARS-CoV. www.snapgene.com/resources/coronavirus-resources/?resource=SARS-CoV-2_(COVID-19)_Genome Complete genome of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) isolate Wuhan-Hu-1, also known as COVID-19.

[@Yo69696yo]

Get well soon professor!!

[@bradzoltick6465]

A very clear explanation. Thank you.

[@user-bi8lk5qv6y]

What a notification to get as I’m trying to go to sleep. Such a heart attack

[@davewilson13]

Felt the same!!

[@dwighthawkins5955]

This is my thang. I buy one small container of Vicks VapoRub take 1/3 out of the container (removed to another similar container) and drip 20-50 drops of pharma grade Oil of Oregano (nasty stuff) into the 2/3 and mix thoroughly. I apply 8-20 times daily to nose mouth area. I also carry a small container of ACV to dab on the eye area at the first itch indication. I suppose I should also mention the natural Oil of Oregano (mix with Olive Oil) in droplet bottle to serve as a lube for my ear plugs. And oh yeah I squirt one shot of Clove Oil in my mouth on occasion (and inhale). I sleep like a baby.

[@argoargif]

Who told you to watch? Ah i see you don't know yourself. Next time, al about testing and generally about the virus watch it in the morning. So simple!

[@jzh0048]

It is good to know it was a false positive, keep healthy and safe!

[@NHL23League]

i must be deaf, it was false positive? or are you trying to be mr know it all?

[@user-nx6ji9tk8i]

He was NOT infectious.

[@billt1954]

@@NHL23League He states himself that it was a "false positive" at 12:48.

[@NHL23League]

@@billt1954 ok thanks for time stamp, good that it was negative.

[@user-fb7xl3fw2e]

Thanks for your explanation. Very persuasive.

[@scottsofardlair13]

Do you know of any politician who understands what a +CTR test means, let alone CT=34.7 which they then use to close down your business, lay off your staff, and terrify your customers? I love your stuff, Vincent. Keep explaining your expertise to those who have a thirst for knowledge.

[@curiousmindjourney]

But if the covid 19 virus hasn't been isolated then what are they testing for and why?

[@believeinjesus8862]

Anything that looks similar, to create a plandemic!!

[@hjf3022]

It has been isolated, it happened back in january 2020, and it has been re-done countless times in different countries since then. The virus is routinely grown in cell cultures, and visualised with electron microscopy. Check out doi 10.5694/mja2.50569 for details on how they first isolated the virus in Australia.

[@kc8130]

@@hjf3022 isolation in other cultures is not a purified isolate dumb ass

[@anonyarena]

I am glad it was a false positive. I wish you all the good health in the world. Thanks for explaining about Ct.

[@willswitchcraft]

complex and yet informative. Thanks for uploading. It's nice to see someone putting this kind of info out there. With all this misinformation, and conflicting 'data', nice to see some solid science....

[@uptonormalwidewisdom4360]

I wish you quick return to health.

[@fleetingdays]

In Denmark, a new form of SARS-CoV-2 has mutated from minks to humans. Guess there is 12 cases so far. 👀👀 We don’t believe anyone is stopping flights from Denmark😒😒

[@conniestone6251]

UK is now stopping flights and requires 14 day isolation of ANY returned people.

[@conniestone6251]

UK is now stopping flights and requires 14 day isolation of ANY returned people.

[@conniestone6251]

UK is now stopping flights and requires 14 day isolation of ANY returned people (from Denmark).

[@jooky87]

So professor, what’s your take on all the testing that is going on right now? Is the hysteria justified?

[@DIYDaveT]

He's a pseudo-intellectual liberal. Yes, he thinks testing is good. He wears a mask driving around town in his car even when he's alone. And he is quite upset that everyone else who isn't a flaming liberal isn't gullible enough to do it as well.

[@DIYDaveT]

@DialatedPupils white socks, yes, and worse yet, the sandals with the big toe strap.

[@emarobinson5288]

Hi Vincent, I wanted to say that I have a ton of respect for you and your work, your videos helped me through my virology courses and I always recommend them to my students. I'm getting my PhD in the immunology of respiratory RNA viruses and this did make me a little concerned. I agree that a Ct of ~35 seems quite high, but I routinely see mid-30s Cts that still plaque, across 5 sets of primer pairs - some of which have been abused. I have never once seen my no-RT controls come up positive in 45 rounds of RT-qPCR with any of my 5 viral primer sets. I think this is because you don't have the problem of genomic contamination. On the other hand, when I look at something like interferon beta transcript, a Ct of 35 is definitely not a meaningful positive result, and my no-RT is often positive by then. I'd also like to see some evidence that 3 days isn't enough time for a low titer to become undetectable, especially in the tail-end of an asymptomatic infection. If you were infected, your immune system seems to be functioning well, and The difference between 9 and 12 days into, say, flu, can easily take a low titer to nothing. I do think that it's good for people to understand how qPCR works, but I'm quite concerned about the evidence behind your evaluation.

[@pamatya]

Anyways, this is not a standard test at all. The Q-tip swab or whatever they are doing for PCR Test, the amount of stuff you get into the Q-tip is not standardized. So let assume in his sample, the amount of stuff collected is 1/4th, that means your CT value should have to be then 36.7 (because each cycle doubles). Or if the amount of the sample on Q-tip is 8 times more, then the CT value would be 31.7. That's why this PCR Test is bullshit, bogus, and I can't believe how so many scientists are not voicing enough.. and simply keeping mum against all the bullshit narratives shoved into people's faces by these MSM, TVs, WHO, CDC, NIH, NHS.. this is a criminal act they are engaging to cause massive hardships upon the population and torturing them.

[@leekoh9730]

Thanks for sharing this! Very helpful information:)

[@rs1803]

Surely it's contamination/human error? Is it really possible to get non-specific amplification from human mRNA? Glad you are negative!

[@allangibson8494]

The PCR test is VERY specific. Cross contamination from other tests being processed in the same lab is however possible as is detection of very early cases or very late cases. That is why knowing the cutoff value is useful - and then you retest marginal positive tests a day later to see which way it is changing.

[@ManuelMartinez-ex1nc]

Each PCR assay is an independent experiment with both positive and negative control that may help id the contaminants. Second is a semi quantitative assay so a contamination would likely have less amount amplified.

[@rs1803]

@@allangibson8494 I know. I've done hundreds of PCRs, and suffered from contamination plenty of times. Here in the UK, the cut-off for a positive test here is a Ct of above 40. I'm just curious if it is really possible to get a false positive from human mRNA at around the lower Ct value of 34. There's many here in the UK who feel the PCR test is deeply flawed, I'm not one of them. These types of people are the covid denier type. However, if it's possible to get a false positive in this way, then I would begin to believe the test is indeed flawed.

[@rs1803]

@@AlwayzPr0 The fact that the graph that Vincent displays here shows culturable virus at Ct 35 (I think I've seen cultured virus at Ct 37 in one study), then it would make sense to have the cut-off around this Ct, at least. I could be completely wrong, I'd like some expert opinion to point me in the right direction. There's so much misinformation and sceptitism surrounding the PCR test, which exacerbates public mistrust in our testing system. I feel it's very important to clear this up.

[@rs1803]

@@AlwayzPr0 Ok thanks for letting me know. Think I watched that one , so I'll go rewatch. Hopefully Vincent can answer me.

[@rogerstarkey5390]

Since the test was "Non invasive", at the anterior portion of the nose, there's a possibility it was airborne virus which hadn't entered the respiratory system? Surely a more accurate method would be to blow ones nose into a sterile tissue, ensuring material was transmitted form deeper in the throat? similarly, coughing (away from the tester!) would yield the same?

[@doctorasgr80]

Excellent talk Professor Racaniello!

[@jeffersonspace]

Thanks Earthly Doctor Vince, and TWIV. Bless.

[@Treeesmith]

It means you've had a cold at some point in your life...

[@solarwind907]

Your comment means you didn’t watch the video. You and 11 others.

[@lwaters3100]

Or a vaccine

[@how2pick4name]

People: Prof vir is infected muahaha Prof vir: It was a false positive People:

[@argoargif]

💩💩

[@how2pick4name]

@@argoargif Not particularly interested in how you smell but hey, thanks for the valuable info.

[@argoargif]

Ohhh, i thought this are biscuits. Sorry I didn't notice that it's shit. 🤓 The best you send the biscuits to the 🚀 moon and you eat what you produce. 🦧

[@katelinmason7384]

Thank you for this excellent explanation! PCR testing and false positives make sense now, it was something that has confused me a bit since we began with pcr testing. I wonder if doing follow up testing on all pcr tests with a high ct, say over 20, would help weed out more false positives.

[@luisfernando-mm3jt]

Thanks for explaining.. Takes care

[@HBFTimmahh]

I Bet you are still a "Positive Statistic" to the CDC.

[@67kingdedede]

I would hope not as that would mean the death rate is higher than we know

[@jamieheid3755]

@@67kingdedede it's still part of the stats. " we are working on updating this data" NY Governor covid briefing. No it doesn't mean the death rate would be higher, for one many were "presumed" and never tested. Also per cdc suicides and heart attacks were added and are working on seperating the data. Lol death sucks but being honest on how one died helps. Estimates of excess deaths www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid19/excess_deaths.htm

[@yrebrac]

What about the possibility of the second test being a false negative?

[@solarwind907]

I think that’s a really good question. Since he is a virologist and he’s over 65 years old he must be pretty sure it was a false positive. But why? I think it’s because A - he knows where he’s been, he hasn’t been eating out at restaurants or bars, around people without masks etc. B- he is familiar with how a PCR test is done in a laboratory and knows how a sample could be contaminated. C- figures that since The test result was 34.7 indicating a very low amount of COVID-19 RNA in the sample, and then to test negative a few days later, that makes him lean towards the false positive diagnosis. Is that what you were thinking too?

[@yrebrac]

​@@solarwind907 I don't think he's considering where he's been at all, he could get exposed anywhere, even staying at home, via his family for example. I am guessing he thinks false positives are a lot more likely than false negatives and could be ruled out, but would prefer if we Vincent's thoughts on the topic.

[@timothysmith9838]

@@yrebrac Occam's razor cuts deep..anchoring is key to current testing and interpretations...surely Vincent should have commented on this however given his commitment to science communication ... regardless It is much more likely his first test was a false positive (given no symptoms, no presumptive exposure and random nature of his test (ie he didn't have cause to take the test) than a legit positive (CT = 34.7) followed by a false negative. The later case is less likely (false negatives < true negatives) but as you suggest... possible. In the interest of public messaging... Vincent should probably take lateral assays for 2-3 days (if he can get his hands on them...to rule out oncoming infection) and follow with a serology IGG test perhaps to rule out a past infection. This would allow the public to understand current testing and more precisely the failure of US public health officials (up to but not only from the POTUS) to provide adequate testing and education around this crisis. Looking at the numbers... Vincent is much more likely to not have or have had infection not having any history of symptoms at this point wouldn't you agree? To suggest further testing of all patients in this use case - without symptoms - is not wise or helpful.

[@solarwind907]

@@yrebrac Vincent‘s wife Amy sometimes works in a BSL3 lab. She’s tested twice a week. They have no kids at home that I know of. Vincent has a pretty good idea how many virions are needed to jumpstart a virus. I imagine his mind is running a statistical analysis and how many virus particles there could be on anything he touches or breathes in and acts accordingly. But I don’t know. You might try emailing Vincent directly. I’m pretty sure there are links listed on the microbe.tv website. Hope you and everyone you care about stay healthy for a long time.

[@theresaprator7608]

I found this video highly informative for a layperson, and the commentary following it equally as interesting. Dr. Racaniello, could you provide an update on the status of Dr. Michael Mina’s work at your next TWIV please? Thank you!

[@robertschlesinger1342]

Thank you for this informative video. I'm glad to hear that you're OK. Retesting is not an option for most people. It is a significant hassle even to get tested once, even in the nicer suburbs of Los Angeles. The health system is clearly broken. Had your second test also been positive, then what is the optimal course of action? This information would be of great benefit to your viewers.

[@robertschlesinger1342]

As an addendum to my previous comment, the testing labs for COVID-19 here in Southern California have a reputation both anecdotally and online in consumer ratings, for overbilling, double billing, not providing results, long delays in providing results, having not phone number for billing or other inquiries, employing "clowns in white lab coats" ( as one educated person reported), etc., etc. This is a big problem that needs prompt fixing, especially with COVID-19 numbers increasing. The test costs often are $500 or more per test, and this is often after insurance pays for a portion of the testing. It almost seems both a scam and a means to diminish testing to reduce the numbers for political reasons. Thankfully, Trump will soon be gone, but in the intervening months, his incompetence can cause considerable death and destruction.