C-FAST
{{Short description|Bogus hepatitis C virus detection device}}
C-FAST was a device purported to be able to detect infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) from a distance, using electromagnetic radiation emanating from the virus' genome. At a press conference in February 2014, Egyptian generals presented the device as a result of decades-long secret military research.
Device
File:ADE 651 at QEDcon 2016 01.jpg
The government of Egypt filed an international patent for the device in 2010.{{cite patent
| country = WO
| number = 2011116782
| status = patent
| title = FAST SERIES (FIELD ADVANCED SCREENING TOOL
| pubdate = 2011-09-29
| fdate = 2010-12-19
| invent1 = EBRAHIM, Ahmed, Amien
}}{ The Guardian wrote about it in February 2013. A report on an international study evaluating C-FAST appeared in 2013 in an online journal published by the predatory publisher WASET. According to this report, the device detected hepatitis C with high specificity and sensitivity.{{Cite journal |last1=Shiha |first1=Gamal |last2=Samir |first2=Waleed |last3=Azam |first3=Zahid |last4=Kar |first4=Premashis |last5=Hamid |first5=Saeed |last6=Sarin |first6=Shiv |date=2013 |title=A Novel Method for Non-Invasive Diagnosis of Hepatitis C Virus Using Electromagnetic Signal Detection: A Multicenter International Study |url=https://emmind.net/openpapers_repos/Endogenous_Fields-Mind/General/EM_Various/2013_A_Novel_Method_for_Non-Invasive_Diagnosis_of_Hepatitis_C_Virus_Using_Electromagnetic_Signal_Detection_A_Multicenter_International_Study.pdf |journal=International Journal of Medical, Health, Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Engineering |language=en |volume=7 |issue=12}} The device was said to compare the received electromagnetic signal from a patient to the ideal signal emitted by a specific part of the HCV RNA genome that had been measured in a laboratory and stored on the device. If those signals agreed, the hand-held device would create a force, pointing the device's antenna towards the patient; if they didn't agree, no force was detected.{{Cite web |last=Kingsley |first=Patrick |date=2013-02-25 |title=Scientists sceptical about device that 'remotely detects hepatitis C' |url=http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/feb/25/scientists-divided-device-hepatitis-c |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}
The device's design and claimed method of action were very similar to those of the bogus bomb detection device ADE 651,{{Cite magazine |last= |first= |date=2015-06-24 |title=The $80 Million Fake Bomb-Detector Scam—and the People Behind It |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2015/06/fake-bomb-detectors-iraq |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150625045348/http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2015/06/fake-bomb-detectors-iraq |archive-date=2015-06-25 |access-date=2022-06-07 |magazine=Vanity Fair |language=en-US |url-status=live }} and it resembles a divining rod.{{Cite web |last=Dickey |first=Nathan |date=2014-03-02 |title=Dowsing for Disease |url=https://nathandickey.wordpress.com/2014/03/02/dowsing-for-disease/ |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=Skeptical Inquests |language=en}}
Press conference
At the press conference on 24 February 2014, Egyptian major-general Ibrahim Abdel-Atti revealed the device, as well as a similar one ("I-FAST") for the detection of HIV infection. Both were adapted from a bomb detecting device.{{Cite web |date=2014-02-28 |title=Egypt army criticized for claim of a device that cures AIDS |url=https://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-egypt-military-devices-viruses-20140228-story.html |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} Another device was announced at the presentation, the "Complete Cure Device" (CCD), which was said to operate similar to a dialysis machine, curing hepatitis C and HIV by removing the viruses from the blood.{{Cite web |date=2014-03-19 |title=Public Health Upshots of Political PR - Egypt, HIV and Hep C |url=https://www.borgenmagazine.com/public-health-upshots-political-pr-egypt-hiv-hep-c/ |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=Borgen Magazine |language=en-US}}
Field Marshal Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, who had just been appointed Minister of Defense, attended the presentation, which might have had political significance, especially since Egypt has the highest rate of hepatitis C in the world and Al-Sisi was a candidate (and ultimately successful) in the presidential elections three months later.
Reactions and further developments
Egyptian comedian, news commenter and physician Bassem Youssef mocked the devices on air.{{Cite web |date=2014-03-03 |title=Top Egyptian Comedian Slams Military For Saying It Can 'Cure' AIDS And Hepatitis C |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bassem-youssef-aids-hepatitis_n_4889382 |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}
The CCD was planned to be rolled out in Egyptian army hospitals in July 2014, but in that month it was announced that this roll-out had to be delayed to allow for further testing. The claims about the devices were strongly criticised by doctors and scientists.{{Cite web |last=Iaccino |first=Ludovica |date=2014-07-01 |title=Egyptian Military Returns to Drawing Board With 'Miraculous' Cure for Aids and Hepatitis |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/egyptian-military-returns-drawing-board-miraculous-cure-aids-hepatitis-1454892 |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=International Business Times UK |language=en}}