TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A clip from Michael Yeadon's interview in the documentary Planet Lockdown has been circulating on Instagram [archive] and Facebook since April 18, 2026. Yeadon claims that polymerase chain reaction (PCR) genetic material testing is a fraudulent attempt to create the illusion of the virus's existence. He alleges that all the results are false positives.
Several media outlets, including the Washington Post, have called Planet Lockdown a film promoting conspiracy theories that deny the Covid-19 pandemic. The film was widely circulated on social media in 2020 and 2021 before Facebook and YouTube removed it.
However, is it true that PCR tests are a scam and produce false positives?
FACT CHECK
Tempo's Fact Check team verified this claim by interviewing epidemiologists and comparing it with various credible sources. The verification results indicate that PCR tests are a method for diagnosing genetic material with a higher prevalence than other tests.
Windhu Purnomo, an epidemiologist at the Faculty of Public Health at Airlangga University, stated that the claims in the video contradict the findings of global experts. PCR testing remains the gold standard for molecular diagnosis.
Despite its limitations in determining the infectiousness of infected patients, Windhu believes the PCR test results so far are quite valid. "The statements in the video are disinformation," he told Tempo on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the public has access to three types of tests to detect the virus: PCR, rapid antigen, and rapid antibody. PCR tests use nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab samples, rapid antigen tests use nasal swabs, and rapid antibody tests use patient blood.
Sophia Yohe, Director of the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory at the University of Minnesota Medical School, explained that the performance of PCR testing laboratories is excellent. Most PCR test kits are capable of detecting 500–5,000 copies of viral RNA per mL almost 100% of the time.
"Furthermore, PCR tests generally do not cross-react with other viruses, so their analytical specificity is also nearly 100%," Yohe said, as quoted on the College of American Pathologists website.
However, Yohe noted that clinical performance, or the actual disease detection ability, can be lower. Several studies have shown that the clinical performance of PCR tests varies, with sensitivity approaching 80% and specificity ranging from 98–99%.
Biological and technical factors prior to testing, such as the method and timing of sample collection, influence this low clinical performance. In the context of COVID-19 testing, the location of the virus in the body, the amount of virus, and the time since the onset of symptoms also impact test results.
The location of the sample collection is also crucial because the amount of virus varies at each anatomical point. "The quality of the sample collection will determine how much virus, if any, gets into the sample tube," Sophia said.
Michael Yeadon's Track Record
Yeadon claimed his last position was Chief Scientist of the allergy and respiratory research division at the healthcare company Pfizer before leaving in 2011. In fact, Mikael Dolsten had served as Pfizer's Chief Scientist since May 2010. The US fact-checker Snopes reported that Dolsten replaced Martin Mackay.
Yeadon actually served as Vice President and Chief Scientist of the Allergy and Respiratory Unit until 2011. This unit was part of Pfizer's Worldwide Research, Development and Medical (WRDM) division, led by Dolsten.
A 2010 Pfizer report noted that Yeadon's unit handled the development of compounds for respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pulmonary vascular disease.
After leaving Pfizer, he and three colleagues founded the biotechnology company Ziarco and served as CEO. Reuters reported that the pharmaceutical company Novartis acquired Ziarco in 2017 for an initial $325 million.
Yeadon's views later shifted to skepticism and vocal opposition to the Covid-19 vaccination policy. According to Full Fact, in addition to being anti-vaxxer, he spread false information by opposing lockdowns and mandatory mask-wearing. He even accused the pandemic of being a "massive global fraud."
CONCLUSION
Based on fact-checking, the claim that PCR tests are fraudulent is false.
TEMPO FACT-CHECK TEAM
**Do you have information or claims that you want to have fact-checked? Contact our ChatBot. You can also send criticism, objections, or feedback for this Fact-Checking article via email to [email protected].
