Jennifer Cabrera Profile picture
Sep 13, 2020 11 tweets 2 min read Read on X
A thread on PCR testing and cycle thresholds. More details are available in the linked article:

1/11
rationalground.com/why-mass-pcr-t…
The problem is that current PCR tests provide evidence of the presence of viral RNA but no information about whether the individual is infectious.

In a French study on the duration of infectiousness, scientists cultured samples from PCR tests and found...

2/11
... that the culture positivity rate (a measure of the viability of the virus) decreased with the number of cycles that it took to detect that virus. No culture was obtained from samples that required more than 34 cycles.

3/11
A recent New York Times article presented evidence that specimens detected in 27 to 34 cycles rarely show any live virus, and specimens detected above 34 cycles never show any live virus.

4/11
The FDA’s Instructions for Use for the CDC 2019-Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel currently recommends a threshold of 40 cycles for a specimen to be considered positive, well above the recommendations of the studies cited above.

5/11
The decision to equate a positive PCR test with a “case” in the COVID-19 pandemic is not aligned with recommendations from the test manufacturers or with definitions of cases for other viruses.

6/11
For SARS-CoV-1, the CDC and WHO recommended testing only patients “with a high index of suspicion for having SARS-CoV-1 disease” and re-testing positive specimens in a reference laboratory.

7/11
When a PCR specimen indicated infection, the recommendation was to test a second specimen.

The new recommendation to only test symptomatic or exposed people is a good start to address the hysteria caused by rising case numbers, particularly in young people.

8/11
However, an additional change is needed: the FDA recommendation for 40 cycles of amplification in PCR testing is far too sensitive and is leading to alarm about high numbers of “cases” in asymptomatic people

9/11
The FDA should update their guidance to recommend no more than 34 cycles, require labs to communicate the number of cycles required to detect the virus for each positive test, and...

10/11
... require labs to disclose the cycle threshold for all previous COVID tests to clean up the inflated statistics (cases, hospitalizations, and deaths) associated with test results that exceeded 34 cycles.

11/11

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More from @jhaskinscabrera

Dec 12, 2023
Exclusive: I sat down with @FLSurgeonGen to discuss his letter to the FDA about the risks of DNA fragments in Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.

Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo asks FDA for data on risks of DNA contaminants in COVID-19 vaccines

alachuachronicle.com/exclusive-inte…
On December 6, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo sent a letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), asking questions about a recent preprint documenting the detection of billions of DNA fragments per dose in the approved Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 mRNA vaccines
/1
The risks of these contaminants could include the integration of these DNA fragments with human DNA, changes to our genes that could be passed down to offspring, and the development of cancer because the genes within a cell control whether the cell is healthy or cancerous.
2/
Read 9 tweets
Mar 31, 2023
After our questions led to the removal of anti-police banners on a UF bldg, rocks were thrown through the windows, and the artists wrote "F*** off Fascists" on plywood beside a disclaimer from the university that said it was "artists' speech"

alachuachronicle.com/largely-a-typo…
After we asked questions earlier this month, the banners, which also said, "Next step, we burn it down," were removed

alachuachronicle.com/uf-removes-ant…
A UF professor posted a letter stating that it was "largely a typographic problem" because the signs identifying the banners as "artists' speech" could not be read by passing drivers. UF was also concerned that the banners were not installed safely. Image
Read 5 tweets
Feb 27, 2023
1/ On Thursday, the Florida Joint Legislative Auditing Committee told the City of Gainesville that they need to make BIG changes to their budget or face removal from office.

The city commission has scheduled an emergency meeting for tomorrow.

alachuachronicle.com/bipartisan-leg…
2/ In preparation for that meeting, we have published 3 opinion pieces from people who have unsuccessfully tried to give the city commission advice over the past decade or so.

The first is from the former General Manager of the City's municipal utility

alachuachronicle.com/bielarski-city…
3/ The second is from the former City Auditor, who was fired after he found irregularities in a City program and was instrumental in launching the JLAC audit.

This one speaks to the legislature: @Paul_Renner, @Kathleen4SWFL, @senpizzo, @RepMikeCaruso

alachuachronicle.com/holt-legislatu…
Read 4 tweets
Feb 9, 2023
An "insider" report details the many ways in which DEI is embedded into every department at the University of Florida
alachuachronicle.com/insider-report…
A report on DEI and CRT initiatives at the University of Florida provided to Alachua Chronicle by a UF “insider” describes a number of programs and positions, many of which were not reported by the university in response to a request from the governor
UF has 25 faculty or staff with official DEI titles, with salaries totaling more than $3 million. A majority of these were hired in the 2021-22 academic year. Two DEI staff members make over $300k, one makes over $200k, and 6 make over $150k.
Read 19 tweets
Feb 4, 2023
UF Chemistry DEI puts out "Black Friday" newsletters on Fridays during Black History Month.
"Black History Month is a time to to both honor those Black scientists and role models that paved the way for today’s individuals and as a time to examine how we can bring anti-racism and racial justice to our communities."

dei.chem.ufl.edu/2022-black-his…
There is info about a College of Liberal Arts & Sciences event that "will examine the relationship between Afro-Latinx identity and the #BlackLivesMatter movement via social media."

clas.ufl.edu/event/
Read 8 tweets
Jan 31, 2023
.@GovRonDeSantis announces university course requirements in "actual history, actual philosophy that has shaped Western civilization." Image
DeSantis: "We will eliminate all DEI and CRT bureaucracies" in universities. "Those bureaucracies are not representative of what the people of this state want."
DeSantis: Will give universities the ability to call for a post-tenure review of any faculty member at any time. The legislature previously mandated review every 5 years.

Also, university presidents will have more influence over hiring.
Read 7 tweets

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