When I decided to deconstruct Viral Forensics, the latest fraud being perpetrated on the general public by AIDS Denialists Clark Baker and David Rasnick, the hardest part was deciding where to start. Their website offers up a plethora of lies that beg to be corrected. I decided to start with the name:

Viral Forensics; A Private Investigation Agency.

The first part, Viral, is self explanatory. The “service” claims to use Electron Microscopy as a tool to scan whole blood to look for a myriad of different viruses, although it is really just a new, clever way to perpetuate their AIDS Denialist agenda. The second part, Forensics, was puzzling. No where on the website will you find any mention of “solving crimes”, “courts of law” or anything having to do with the legal justice system. Nor does the site say how this “service” could be used in any type of “investigation” whatsoever, despite the fact that the words “Private Investigation Agency” make up 60% of the name. The word “Forensics” in the name of the company is just a clever way to try and avoid California Business and Professions Code Section 1241(b):

1241.  (a) This chapter applies to all clinical laboratories in
California or receiving biological specimens originating in California for the 
purpose of performing a clinical laboratory test or examination, and to all persons
performing clinical laboratory tests or examinations or engaging in clinical 
laboratory practice in California or on biological specimens originating in California,
except as provided in subdivision (b).
   (b) This chapter shall not apply to any of the following clinical
laboratories, or to persons performing clinical laboratory tests or
examinations in any of the following clinical laboratories:
   (1) Those owned and operated by the United States of America, or
any department, agency, or official thereof acting in his or her
official capacity to the extent that the Secretary of the federal
Department of Health and Human Services has modified the application
of CLIA requirements to those laboratories.
   (2) Public health laboratories, as defined in Section 1206.
   (3) Those that perform clinical laboratory tests or examinations
for forensic purposes only.
   (4) Those that perform clinical laboratory tests or examinations
for research and teaching purposes only and do not report or use
patient-specific results for the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment
of any disease or impairment of, or for the assessment of the health
of, an individual.
   (5) Those that perform clinical laboratory tests or examinations
certified by the National Institutes on Drug Abuse only for those
certified tests or examinations. However, all other clinical
laboratory tests or examinations conducted by the laboratory are
subject to this chapter.

In other words, Baker and Rasnick are breaking the law trying to avoid the law via strict regulations such as CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Amendments) and CAP (College of American Pathologists) that apply to other labs handling human blood products containing potentially infectious agents. Once again Clark Baker believes that he is above the law. And he is not shy about stating it:

“Because we are not a diagnostic laboratory, Viral Forensics is not subject to the limitations set by the College of American Pathologists (CAP)…”

When they state right on their website that “we are not a diagnostic laboratory…” they are outright lying!

“Has a clinician told you that you are infected with HIV, HPV, Hepatitis C, or other infectious disease?  How certain are you that the diagnosis (bolding mine) was accurate?”

“TEM is the ONLY reliable way to establish whether HIV or other pathogens are present in your blood.”

“Few doctors are aware of these cross-reactions and even fewer rule them out when ordering ELISA, Western Blot, or PCR tests to “diagnose”  (bolding mine) patients.  Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is the only technology available to visually confirm the presence or absence of pathogens in human blood.   If you have questions about your blood test results, contact Viral Forensics for an optical examination of your blood samples.”

All of those examples prove that their “service” is strictly meant to diagnose…or, in their minds, “correct” a false diagnosis. And when a laboratory blatantly says that they already know the outcome of their tests, you really should see that as a huge red flag that their “services” are not objective. And objectivity is a hallmark of a credible, reliable laboratory.

And their Disclaimer should be another huge, red flag to anyone thinking about utilizing this “service”. The disclaimer proves the hypocrisy and outright bullshit of this joke-of-a-service. At the disclaimer you will find that they bend over backwards to protect themselves from the obvious lies they state as fact on the rest of their website. Their disclaimer is truly a melange of contradictions to behold as well as lifting directly from B&P Code Section 1241(b):

“The medical information on this site and linked websites are provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information is not intended to be patient education, does not create any patient-physician relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.

Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition.  Viral Forensics LLC expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. Viral Forensics LLC does not endorse specifically any test, treatment, or procedure mentioned on the site.

By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by Viral Forensics LLC.  If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter this site.”

There are way too many lies and blatant bullshit to devote to one post. My next posts will deal with:

Part II: Viral Forensics’ “white paper”. A white paper is written in the style of a peer reviewed science paper. In actuality, it is nothing more than a marketing ploy. This will be quite delicious to deconstruct.

Part III: Why EM is not an appropriate application for HIV. And don’t be fooled, HIV is really the only virus that Viral Forensics is concerned with.

Part IV: The criminal cases using Electron Microscopy in the defense of HIV+ persons charged with reckless endangerment. These were cases supported by the HIV Innocence Group that has been defunct for 18 months thanks to my meticulous documentation of the lies of said group on this very website. (And why I was sued by Clark Baker in a Texas Federal Court. BTW, I won the case. Oh, yeah, and I won the appeal. And it cost Mr. Baker at least $150K.)