chapter1
personal knowledge of what decision-making process was used in other countries.” At long last, Armand is visibly upset with this testimony. Sarah wonders why, after all that’s come before it, this particular line of questions would get to him. Maybe it’s simply the sheer volume of damning information that Armand didn’t expect.The judge was surprised at the tone of Armand’s voice as well, but he had a point. “Sustained.”
“I’ll rephrase, Your Honor.” Campbell wasn’t about to let this point go. “Dr. Tanner, is the Western Blot used in Great Britain, for example?”
“No, it’s not.”
“And what is your personal opinion, rather than your expert testimony, of why not?”
“Because the Western Blot, on its own, produces so many false positives that it makes no sense to use it in conjunction with any other test, like an ELISA, that also produces an enormous number of false positives.”
Campbell waits for Armand to object, but he didn’t. Maybe Armand realizes that he needs to cool down. Well, let’s keep going and see what happens. “Dr. Tanner, are those the only things wrong with the HIV Western Blot test?”
“No, not by a long shot. The biggest problem is that, unlike the ELISA test, the Western Blot requires subjective interpretation of its results, making it impossible to standardize. Any other diagnostic test is only considered valid if the results have the same meaning in all patients, in all laboratories, by all doctors, and in all countries. That’s not the case with the HIV Western Blot.”
“Can you give us an example of what you mean by ‘standardization’?”
“Well, I think everyone is familiar with what is called an EKG – a computer printout of the rhythms of the heart. Can you imagine the chaos that would be created if the same EKG could be interpreted to mean a heart attack by one doctor in one place, but not by another doctor in another place?”
Campbell lets that one sink in while he pretends to look at his notes. “But you’re suggesting that the Western Blot, which is supposed to clear up all the confusion