[GodGunsGuts]

I don’t believe I ever said the MAGI assay involves amplification. All it does is register the tripping of a genetically engineered LTR upstream of an E. coli gene that encodes LacZ. There is no way of knowing exactly what is tripping the LTR, and therefore there is no way to know for sure if it is HIV.

[allmendream]

Sure there is, they sequenced positive reactions to the MAGI assay to reveal not only that it was HIV, but what particular subtype of HIV it was.

And your quibble was that these assays were in vitro and involved amplification. The MAGI assay was in vivo and didn't involve amplification.