On the other hand, if it eliminates 95% and 97% of the virus, in whatever medium or culture, what difference does it make what the control is? It’s a hit!
Yes, in a way LR and you are correct. 97% reduction was achieved when compared to what happened in comparator culture left untreated, in other words, treated with nothing. However, it does not follow that substance with marked viral load reduction vs. 'nothing' would lack potency, one measure of which just happens to be viral load reduction.