Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
@mackayim.bsky.social
forever virologist but not a working one. past researcher. PCR guy. past lab manager. husband. dad. reader. writer. fixer. bad typist. learner. australian.
#MasksWork
https://virologydownunder.com/
#MasksWork
https://virologydownunder.com/
Pinned
Pathology lab PCR is not research lab PCR
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) use in the pathology lab differs from research-based PCR in two fundamental ways, namely quality and clinical expertise. These are essential to producing a clinical diagnosis supported by results from a range of tests performed by different branches of 'the pathology laboratory'. In a research lab, PCR results are often relied on to confirm experimental outcomes. Recognising these differences requires experience in a high-quality pathology lab setting to fully appreciate the absolute need for quality and its ubiquity. My experience The many words below are based on 32 years of experience in both research and routine labs, using PCR as a tool to answer a range of questions.
virologydownunder.com
Pathology lab PCR is not research lab PCR
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) use in the pathology lab differs from research-based PCR in two fundamental ways, namely quality and clinical expertise. These are essential to producing a clinical diagnosis supported by results from a range of tests…
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) use in the pathology lab differs from research-based PCR in two fundamental ways, namely quality and clinical expertise. These are essential to producing a clinical diagnosis supported by results from a range of tests…
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
Russia coordinated 130 resources to publish 21,400 disinformation posts in three days before Geneva talks
Narratives: "Split in West," "ungrateful Ukraine," "failed state under external governance," "terrorist state" euromaidanpress.com/2026/02/16/2...
Narratives: "Split in West," "ungrateful Ukraine," "failed state under external governance," "terrorist state" euromaidanpress.com/2026/02/16/2...
21,400 disinformation posts in three days: Russia returns “ungrateful Ukraine” narrative to Europe ahead of Geneva talks
Splitting NATO, portraying Ukraine as failed state, labeling it terrorist — it's Russia's pre-Geneva push.
euromaidanpress.com
February 16, 2026 at 11:08 PM
Russia coordinated 130 resources to publish 21,400 disinformation posts in three days before Geneva talks
Narratives: "Split in West," "ungrateful Ukraine," "failed state under external governance," "terrorist state" euromaidanpress.com/2026/02/16/2...
Narratives: "Split in West," "ungrateful Ukraine," "failed state under external governance," "terrorist state" euromaidanpress.com/2026/02/16/2...
Imagine if anyone else is attacked by Russia. Production is insufficient to defend and have reloads at the scale needed.
🇩🇪🇺🇦 Wadephul on why Germany out of air defense missiles for Ukraine:
What there still is (Patriots)… comes from American production. Honestly, everything that is coming out of the production halls there now also goes directly to Ukraine. We have made everything available that we somehow had.
What there still is (Patriots)… comes from American production. Honestly, everything that is coming out of the production halls there now also goes directly to Ukraine. We have made everything available that we somehow had.
February 17, 2026 at 12:57 AM
Imagine if anyone else is attacked by Russia. Production is insufficient to defend and have reloads at the scale needed.
The USB C of air defence launchers!
Ukraine just built an air defense system that doesn't care what missile you feed it.
The new Shershen fires five different types — Soviet, Western, and Ukrainian-made — from a single launcher.
The new Shershen fires five different types — Soviet, Western, and Ukrainian-made — from a single launcher.
February 17, 2026 at 12:54 AM
The USB C of air defence launchers!
Except there have been no *efforts* made by the USA toward peace.
🇭🇺🇺🇦🇺🇸 Orban Suggests Budapest as Venue for Ukraine Peace Summit
He made the remarks at a joint press conference with Rubio in Budapest.
Orban said Hungary continues to support US peace efforts in Ukraine, adding that such efforts would not have been possible without Trump.
He made the remarks at a joint press conference with Rubio in Budapest.
Orban said Hungary continues to support US peace efforts in Ukraine, adding that such efforts would not have been possible without Trump.
February 17, 2026 at 12:53 AM
Except there have been no *efforts* made by the USA toward peace.
"Lawyers argue that students paid annual tuition fees for in-person teaching and full access to facilities, but Covid restrictions meant campuses were closed and courses moved online.
Fees for online degree courses are typically 25-50% less than those for traditional in-person courses”.
Fees for online degree courses are typically 25-50% less than those for traditional in-person courses”.
February 16, 2026 at 10:05 PM
"Lawyers argue that students paid annual tuition fees for in-person teaching and full access to facilities, but Covid restrictions meant campuses were closed and courses moved online.
Fees for online degree courses are typically 25-50% less than those for traditional in-person courses”.
Fees for online degree courses are typically 25-50% less than those for traditional in-person courses”.
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
How vaccines give our immune systems a home advantage
theconversation.com/how-vaccines...
theconversation.com/how-vaccines...
How vaccines give our immune systems a home advantage
The key players of our immune system aren’t well understood. Here’s how vaccines give our immune players a home advantage to fight infection.
theconversation.com
February 16, 2026 at 6:41 PM
How vaccines give our immune systems a home advantage
theconversation.com/how-vaccines...
theconversation.com/how-vaccines...
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
February 16, 2026 at 8:23 PM
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
✋
February 16, 2026 at 9:59 PM
✋
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
More than 250,000 people - most of them exiled Iranians and their supporters - peacefully demonstrated in Munich during the MSC with no major incidents. German police explicitly thanked them for this truly peaceful event.
February 15, 2026 at 10:27 PM
More than 250,000 people - most of them exiled Iranians and their supporters - peacefully demonstrated in Munich during the MSC with no major incidents. German police explicitly thanked them for this truly peaceful event.
Elon Musk posted about race almost every day in January.
"the ideas Musk has publicized are deeply tied to some of the most notorious, violent extremist attacks of the past decade"
Part of the ~40% of Americans who agree and would still vote for this I guess.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
"the ideas Musk has publicized are deeply tied to some of the most notorious, violent extremist attacks of the past decade"
Part of the ~40% of Americans who agree and would still vote for this I guess.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Elon Musk posted about race almost every day in January
Many social media posts by Tesla CEO on his platform are indiscernible from those of white supremacists, say experts
www.theguardian.com
February 15, 2026 at 9:39 PM
Elon Musk posted about race almost every day in January.
"the ideas Musk has publicized are deeply tied to some of the most notorious, violent extremist attacks of the past decade"
Part of the ~40% of Americans who agree and would still vote for this I guess.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
"the ideas Musk has publicized are deeply tied to some of the most notorious, violent extremist attacks of the past decade"
Part of the ~40% of Americans who agree and would still vote for this I guess.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
Whooping cough cases hit record high after vaccine rate drop in Australia.
-we need a government Comms campaign about the benefits of vaccination. Yesterday.
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...
-we need a government Comms campaign about the benefits of vaccination. Yesterday.
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...
Record spike in whooping cough cases due to 'potentially catastrophic' trend
A "potentially catastrophic" decline in Australia's childhood vaccination rates has contributed to the sharpest increase in cases of whooping cough in 35 years, infectious diseases experts say.
www.abc.net.au
February 15, 2026 at 8:24 PM
Whooping cough cases hit record high after vaccine rate drop in Australia.
-we need a government Comms campaign about the benefits of vaccination. Yesterday.
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...
-we need a government Comms campaign about the benefits of vaccination. Yesterday.
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...
Another one of those weird surges of views on an old post on my blog. Weird.
February 15, 2026 at 11:08 AM
Another one of those weird surges of views on an old post on my blog. Weird.
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
AFD Blog `WHO: #Mpox: Recombinant Virus With Genomic Elements of Clades Ib and IIb - Global' afludiary.blogspot.com/2026/02/who-...
WHO: Mpox: Recombinant Virus With Genomic Elements of Clades Ib and IIb - Global
Mpox Multi-country external situation report no. 62 #19,055 Although details were scant, on December 8th, 2025 the UKHSA Identified a New...
afludiary.blogspot.com
February 15, 2026 at 11:00 AM
AFD Blog `WHO: #Mpox: Recombinant Virus With Genomic Elements of Clades Ib and IIb - Global' afludiary.blogspot.com/2026/02/who-...
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
Analysis shows that the world is moving closer to China, as Trump’s isolationism rears its head at the United Nations
These charts show how Trump is isolating the US on the world stage
www.theguardian.com
February 15, 2026 at 6:02 AM
Analysis shows that the world is moving closer to China, as Trump’s isolationism rears its head at the United Nations
They just don't get it don't hey?
The WA premier flags new legislation on hate speech and protests in a bid to protect "social cohesion" in the wake of "multiple threats across Australia" over the summer.
WA to introduce new protests laws in bid to protect 'social cohesion'
The WA premier flags new legislation on hate speech and protests in a bid to protect "social cohesion" in the wake of "multiple threats across Australia" over the summer.
www.abc.net.au
February 15, 2026 at 7:53 AM
They just don't get it don't hey?
He seems to be doing this quite a bit lately.
Don't like my invitation on your behalf, of someone linked to genocide? Too bad.
Police too violent? Naaah.
Protest? Nuh.
Not acting on review findings? So?
Unhappy to be affiliated with facist USA? I'm not.
😒 We see you Albo. You're a disappointment.
Don't like my invitation on your behalf, of someone linked to genocide? Too bad.
Police too violent? Naaah.
Protest? Nuh.
Not acting on review findings? So?
Unhappy to be affiliated with facist USA? I'm not.
😒 We see you Albo. You're a disappointment.
Anthony Albanese dismisses AUKUS concerns, as Adelaide shipyard cost revealed
Anthony Albanese dismisses AUKUS concerns, as Adelaide shipyard cost revealed
The PM announced a $3.9 billion down payment towards a $30 billion site in Adelaide that will build submarines under the AUKUS pact.
www.sbs.com.au
February 15, 2026 at 5:53 AM
He seems to be doing this quite a bit lately.
Don't like my invitation on your behalf, of someone linked to genocide? Too bad.
Police too violent? Naaah.
Protest? Nuh.
Not acting on review findings? So?
Unhappy to be affiliated with facist USA? I'm not.
😒 We see you Albo. You're a disappointment.
Don't like my invitation on your behalf, of someone linked to genocide? Too bad.
Police too violent? Naaah.
Protest? Nuh.
Not acting on review findings? So?
Unhappy to be affiliated with facist USA? I'm not.
😒 We see you Albo. You're a disappointment.
And yet you have not brought them together for over a year.
And bucko, it's not a 'senseless war' - it was a senseless INVASION that posed an existential threat, one that had to be met with a valiant defence.
Get on the right side of reality
And bucko, it's not a 'senseless war' - it was a senseless INVASION that posed an existential threat, one that had to be met with a valiant defence.
Get on the right side of reality
It will take billions of dollars and years and years to rebuild that country. It’s a senseless war.
We find ourselves in a unique position as probably the only nation on earth that can bring the two sides together to discuss the potential for ending this war on negotiated terms.
We find ourselves in a unique position as probably the only nation on earth that can bring the two sides together to discuss the potential for ending this war on negotiated terms.
February 15, 2026 at 5:30 AM
And yet you have not brought them together for over a year.
And bucko, it's not a 'senseless war' - it was a senseless INVASION that posed an existential threat, one that had to be met with a valiant defence.
Get on the right side of reality
And bucko, it's not a 'senseless war' - it was a senseless INVASION that posed an existential threat, one that had to be met with a valiant defence.
Get on the right side of reality
Where "supply" just means "eventually deliver" after another, entrely different, country kindly pays for the weapons that the U.S. is selling, as needed by Uraine.
That's $15 billion dollars of cha ching.
These aren't being supplied after donation.
That's $15 billion dollars of cha ching.
These aren't being supplied after donation.
🇺🇸 We don't know if the Russians are serious about ending the war. They say they are, - Rubio
🇺🇸 Rutte revealed the amount of weapons the US will supply to Ukraine this year under the PURL: This year it will be $15 billion.
🔥Gvardiyske, Crimea, RSP-10 radar station was hit.
2/7
🇺🇸 Rutte revealed the amount of weapons the US will supply to Ukraine this year under the PURL: This year it will be $15 billion.
🔥Gvardiyske, Crimea, RSP-10 radar station was hit.
2/7
February 15, 2026 at 5:25 AM
Where "supply" just means "eventually deliver" after another, entrely different, country kindly pays for the weapons that the U.S. is selling, as needed by Uraine.
That's $15 billion dollars of cha ching.
These aren't being supplied after donation.
That's $15 billion dollars of cha ching.
These aren't being supplied after donation.
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
Europe has become the abused spouse grateful just not to be beaten. Believing this jellyfish is a fool's errand.
open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Rubio Calls For The End Of A Tolerant, Democratic Europe And The Crowd Goes Wild
Just over an hour ago, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for the end of a tolerant, democratic Europe and its break-up into a disparate group of smaller, Trumpist states, and the Europeans in t...
open.substack.com
February 15, 2026 at 2:24 AM
Europe has become the abused spouse grateful just not to be beaten. Believing this jellyfish is a fool's errand.
open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Women problem? Pfft...
"The 2022 election review, co-authored by the Liberals’ new deputy leader, Jane Hume, found the party had not addressed the concerns of female voters. It recommended a 50% “target” for female candidates and MPs over a binding quota."
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
"The 2022 election review, co-authored by the Liberals’ new deputy leader, Jane Hume, found the party had not addressed the concerns of female voters. It recommended a 50% “target” for female candidates and MPs over a binding quota."
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Liberal figure Charlotte Mortlock quits party amid feared backlash over dumping of first female leader
Some female Liberal members ‘incredibly worried’ after Sussan Ley’s ousting, with one saying: ‘The boys are back in charge’
www.theguardian.com
February 15, 2026 at 3:43 AM
Women problem? Pfft...
"The 2022 election review, co-authored by the Liberals’ new deputy leader, Jane Hume, found the party had not addressed the concerns of female voters. It recommended a 50% “target” for female candidates and MPs over a binding quota."
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
"The 2022 election review, co-authored by the Liberals’ new deputy leader, Jane Hume, found the party had not addressed the concerns of female voters. It recommended a 50% “target” for female candidates and MPs over a binding quota."
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...