PCR test false postive; Has it been investigated locally.
Dear Department of Health,
In FOI 2443 the pdf pointed to states that there is up to 95% false postive in the PCR tests for asymptotic (healthy) cases when tested with this kit. If this is the case, what proof at all is there that there is not a 95% false positive rate also with the sick?
https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/...
Basically with such a high rate of false positive, what steps has the government taken to prove for ourselves locally that these tests are indeed effective and not grossly misleading, without referring to external bodies from Australia.
What department is responsible for overseeing this effecacy confirmation of PCR and other EU COVID 19 testing kits.
Thankyou kindly for your time,
Yours faithfully,
A long standing member of a religious community in Western Australia
Dear Long Standing Member of the Religious Community in Western Australia
The Department of Health has received your email dated 11 December 2021 in which you have requested access to documents under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 1982.
You have requested the following:
In FOI 2443 the pdf pointed to states that there is up to 95% false postive in the PCR tests for asymptotic (healthy) cases when tested with this kit. If this is the case, what proof at all is there that there is not a 95% false positive rate also with the sick?
https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/...
Basically with such a high rate of false positive, what steps has the government taken to prove for ourselves locally that these tests are indeed effective and not grossly misleading, without referring to external bodies from Australia.
What department is responsible for overseeing this effecacy confirmation of PCR and other EU COVID 19 testing kits.
A request for access to documents must provide sufficient information as is reasonably necessary to enable a responsible officer in the Department to identify the document(s) requested. The FOI Act does not provide a mechanism for questions to be raised and answers provided, and it does not require the department to create a response to such questions, except in very limited circumstances.
Where a request does not satisfy the validity requirements the Department must undertake a request consultation process with you.
Request consultation process
You have not provided sufficient information for a responsible officer in the Department to identify the documents you are seeking access to and as such, your request is not currently a valid FOI request.
The Department is providing you with a reasonable opportunity to take steps to provide sufficient information that would enable the Department to identify the documents you are seeking access to, and to submit a request that is valid for the purposes of section 15 of the FOI Act.
Timeframes
As this is not currently a valid request, the statutory processing timeframes have not commenced.
The consultation period during which you may revise the scope of your request is 14 days from the date of this email. If the Department does not hear from you before the end of the 14 day consultation period, your request will be regarded as an invalid request and no further action will be taken on it by the Department.
If you require assistance to modify your request to ensure that is a valid request, you may contact me on the details set out below.
Kind regards
FOI Officer
Freedom of Information Section
Legal & Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group
Legal Advice & Legislation Branch
Australian Government Department of Health
GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Australia and their continued connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to all Elders past and present.
If you receive this email in error, please delete it and contact the sender immediately.
-----Original Message-----
From: A long standing member of a religious community in Western Australia <[FOI #8179 email]>
Sent: Saturday, 11 December 2021 1:16 PM
To: FOI <[email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - PCR test false postive; Has it been investigated locally.
REMINDER: Think before you click! This email originated from outside our organisation. Only click links or open attachments if you recognise the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear Department of Health,
In FOI 2443 the pdf pointed to states that there is up to 95% false postive in the PCR tests for asymptotic (healthy) cases when tested with this kit. If this is the case, what proof at all is there that there is not a 95% false positive rate also with the sick?
https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/...
Basically with such a high rate of false positive, what steps has the government taken to prove for ourselves locally that these tests are indeed effective and not grossly misleading, without referring to external bodies from Australia.
What department is responsible for overseeing this effecacy confirmation of PCR and other EU COVID 19 testing kits.
Thankyou kindly for your time,
Yours faithfully,
A long standing member of a religious community in Western Australia
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Dear FOI Officer,
I shall see if I can reword the request so you can understand more clearly;
- What documents discuss the validity of the PCR test use within Australia, the decision by our Australian officers to take it on board.
- What local investigation has occurred into the problem of false positives in the PCR tests within Australia.
- Apart from just following WHO and FDA and CDC, what internal investigation has the department done into Emergency Use testing kits for COVID-19 (such as PCR) within Australia to prove there validity, as the government's own document states a 95% false positive in asymptomatic cases; what assurances has the Department taken to prove it is not deriving false data from PCR test case positives. (document mentioned is here https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/...)
- Is it the case that the department has never done any such investigation at any level, they have just followed external advise with out validating the claims themselves?
Thankyou kindly for your time and efforts,
Yours sincerely,
A long standing member of a religious community in Western Australia
Good afternoon
Thank you for your email of 16 December 2021 below.
Whilst you have provided clarification around your request, your request remains invalid for the purposes of s15(2)(b) of the FOI Act. It remains framed as a series of questions that the department is not required to respond to under the FOI Act.
The FOI Act provides a right for individuals to seek access to documents in the possession of the department. Until such time as your request meets the requirements of s15(2)(b) we are unable to address your queries under the provisions of the FOI Act, and the FOI Unit is unable to assist you any further.
I trust that this information is of assistance to you.
With kind regards
Freedom of Information Unit
Legal and Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group
Legal Advice & Legislation Branch
Australian Government Department of Health
P: 02 6289 1666 E: [Health request email]
GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Australia and their continued connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to all Elders past and present.
Please note that this email and attachments may contain confidential or legally privileged information. Please consult with Legal Division before disclosing any part of this email, or attachment, outside the Department. If you receive this email in error, please delete it and contact the sender immediately
-----Original Message-----
From: A long standing member of a religious community in Western Australia <[FOI #8179 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 16 December 2021 10:48 AM
To: FOI <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Invalid Request - PCR test false positive; Has it been investigated locally. [SEC=OFFICIAL]
REMINDER: Think before you click! This email originated from outside our organisation. Only click links or open attachments if you recognise the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear FOI Officer,
I shall see if I can reword the request so you can understand more clearly;
- What documents discuss the validity of the PCR test use within Australia, the decision by our Australian officers to take it on board.
- What local investigation has occurred into the problem of false positives in the PCR tests within Australia.
- Apart from just following WHO and FDA and CDC, what internal investigation has the department done into Emergency Use testing kits for COVID-19 (such as PCR) within Australia to prove there validity, as the government's own document states a 95% false positive in asymptomatic cases; what assurances has the Department taken to prove it is not deriving false data from PCR test case positives. (document mentioned is here https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/...)
- Is it the case that the department has never done any such investigation at any level, they have just followed external advise with out validating the claims themselves?
Thankyou kindly for your time and efforts,
Yours sincerely,
A long standing member of a religious community in Western Australia
-----Original Message-----
Dear Long Standing Member of the Religious Community in Western Australia
The Department of Health has received your email dated 11 December 2021 in which you have requested access to documents under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 1982.
You have requested the following:
In FOI 2443 the pdf pointed to states that there is up to 95% false postive in the PCR tests for asymptotic (healthy) cases when tested with this kit. If this is the case, what proof at all is there that there is not a 95% false positive rate also with the sick?
https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/...
Basically with such a high rate of false positive, what steps has the government taken to prove for ourselves locally that these tests are indeed effective and not grossly misleading, without referring to external bodies from Australia.
What department is responsible for overseeing this effecacy confirmation of PCR and other EU COVID 19 testing kits.
A request for access to documents must provide sufficient information as is reasonably necessary to enable a responsible officer in the Department to identify the document(s) requested. The FOI Act does not provide a mechanism for questions to be raised and answers provided, and it does not require the department to create a response to such questions, except in very limited circumstances.
Where a request does not satisfy the validity requirements the Department must undertake a request consultation process with you.
Request consultation process
You have not provided sufficient information for a responsible officer in the Department to identify the documents you are seeking access to and as such, your request is not currently a valid FOI request.
The Department is providing you with a reasonable opportunity to take steps to provide sufficient information that would enable the Department to identify the documents you are seeking access to, and to submit a request that is valid for the purposes of section 15 of the FOI Act.
Timeframes
As this is not currently a valid request, the statutory processing timeframes have not commenced.
The consultation period during which you may revise the scope of your request is 14 days from the date of this email. If the Department does not hear from you before the end of the 14 day consultation period, your request will be regarded as an invalid request and no further action will be taken on it by the Department.
If you require assistance to modify your request to ensure that is a valid request, you may contact me on the details set out below.
Kind regards
FOI Officer
Freedom of Information Section
Legal & Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group Legal Advice & Legislation Branch Australian Government Department of Health GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Australia and their continued connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to all Elders past and present.
If you receive this email in error, please delete it and contact the sender immediately.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #8179 email]
This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will be delayed.
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
"Important: This transmission is intended only for the use of the addressee and may contain confidential or legally privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any use or dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you receive this transmission in error please notify the author immediately and delete all copies of this transmission."