I read a report recently that pre-marital HIV testing is to be made compulsory for Muslims.I wonder if anyone has actually thought this through?

As the report implies that HIV is Aids, if one or both partners are found to be HIV positive, what then? The report suggests that they will be given counseling to change their lifestyle! Sounds a bit like counseling a criminal on death row to change his lifestyle.

However, the curious bit is that the whole concept of HIV testing is completely flawed. In fact, it is the opposite of what the authorities claim. Let me explain about antibodies.

Anyone who has had a baby will remember going for a rubella test soon after the pregnancy is diagnosed. Okay, so the result goes as follows - if the mother has rubella antibodies, it means she has had rubella and is protected against getting it and therefore the baby is safe from rubella deformities.

Now compare that to HIV. If a patient has HIV antibodies does it mean they have Aids? This is plainly nonsense. What it actually means is that the patient has had HIV (whatever that is) and is now protected against getting it again.

As for Aids - 'Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome' - it implies that the sufferer's immune system (the bit that makes antibodies against disease) is deficient. In other words, the patient cannot fight infections or make antibodies. It is now becoming apparent that many patients with HIV antibodies continue to lead a normal, healthy life and many patients who are HIV negative, are succumbing to Aids symptoms.

Going back to the reason for this letter, the above makes it even more ridiculous to test couples for HIV as that test is irrelevant and always has been. All the test will do will be to place a serious stigma on the couple and cause immense distress to them.

There is no test available for Aids, as the causative agent has not been identified and since it attacks the antibody-making function, there are no antibodies available for it.

I should be interested in comments from any of your qualified medical readers.