Is COVID-19 really as widespread as we’re being told? There’s no question that we’re in the midst of a harrowing global pandemic, but the actual number of US cases may be far lower than what’s been reported due to little-known quirks in the diagnostic test that is being given each day to thousands of Americans.
In this edition of the Bottom Line Advocator Podcast, Greg Nigh, ND, LAc, joins Bottom Line President Sarah Hiner to talk about the ways in which the purported “gold standard” polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test being used to diagnose COVID-19 can give misleading results. The more you understand, the less frightening the media reports can be.
Dr. Nigh is a naturopathic physician, naturopathic oncologist, licensed acupuncturist and founder of Immersion Health in Portland, Oregon. He has researched and written about PCR testing since the early 1990s, when it was used during the HIV/AIDS crisis.
Topics covered include…
- The early science of PCR testing for HIV/AIDS (5:30 – 9:19)
- Red flags around PCR testing for COVID-19 (9:19 – 10:14)
- Misuse of PCR in detecting COVID-19 cases (10:14 – 10:59)
- Why is PCR testing for COVID-19 allowed? (10:59 – 12:09)
- How the PCR test works (12:09 – 14:30)
- What goes wrong with PCR testing for COVID-19? (14:30 – 17:27)
- How a healthy person could test “positive” (17:27 – 18:50)
- Viruses that naturally exist within all of us (18:50 – 21:15)
- What defines sickness with COVID-19? (21:15 – 23:50)
- When COVID-19 hospitalizations are due to other causes (23:50 – 26:00)
- Not all symptoms should be blamed on COVID-19 (26:00 – 28:30)
- Perceived risk vs. actual risk for COVID-19 (28:30 – 30:30)
- Can a person who isn’t sick but has a positive PCR test result spread the coronavirus? (30:30 – 35:33)
- The PCR test’s “amplification effect” (35:33 – 40:44)
- Why you should contact the lab if you get a positive PCR test result (40:44 – 43:09)
- Reliability of rapid antigen tests (43:09 – 48:36)
- Problems with widespread antigen testing (48:36 – 48:55)
- How PCR and antigen tests compare with other tests (48:55 – 49:52)
- COVID-19 vs. the flu (49:52 – 51:23)
- Questions around hospitalization statistics (51:23 – 54:51)
- Is COVID-19 really spiking? (54:51 – 56:25)
- The protective power of vitamin D and other easy interventions (56:25 – 58:19)
- What to do about COVID-19 testing (58:19 – 1:02:55)
Learn more about Greg Nigh, ND, LAc, at ImmersionHealthpdx.com.
You can connect with and stay in touch with Sarah at her website www.bottomlineinc.com! Find Bottom Line on Facebook @WeAreBottomLine and at Bottom Line Inc. on www.linkedin.com.
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