References:
“This bulletin cancels HCOB 29 February 1972RA Revised 23 April 1975 as it is misleading and has caused some auditors to assess the pc on the meter to find the cause of false TA instead of checking directly with the pc.”
This bulletin reinstates the False TA Checklist with specific handlings that are directly from the issues that I wrote on false TA.
“The following are the items to be checked by an auditor on any pc. It need only be done once unless the check itself is suspected false, or if conditions of the pc’s hands, etc., change.
“The checklist is kept in the pc folder and is entered on the Folder Summary as an action done.
“The value of operating with correct can size should not be underestimated, the reference HCOBs state why.”
The auditor signs and answers the following points on the checklist. The auditor must obtain information by checking the pc’s hands himself or herself to see if the hands are dry or wet. The cause of false TA is in the physical universe and that is where the check is done. It is not done by asking the pc or checking the questions on the pc for meter reads. So the auditor would feel the hands of the pc to establish if they are dry or wet, would feel the pc’s hands with cream on them to see if the cream has dried up, would see if the pc’s hands cup so as to form an area that does not touch the cans and so forth. False TA is not think or mental mass. It is in the physical universe and that is where it has to be handled for it to be remedied. The handling follows each line as you check it. This is for simplicity, as that is the way this checklist is done, each line being handled as you go.
R-FACTOR TO PC: “I AM GOING TO CHECK THE CANS, YOUR HANDS AND VARIOUS OTHER THINGS TO ADJUST EVERYTHING FOR BEST ACCURACY”
1. IS THE METER FULLY CHARGED? ________
Handling:
“Keep a meter charged at least one hour for every 10 of auditing for 240 AC volt charging current, or 2 hrs. for every 10 of auditing on a 110 AC volt charging current. (Mark VI will get about 6 hrs. for every 1 hr. charged.)
“Before each session snap the knob over to TEST. The needle should hit hard on the right side of the face. It can even bounce. If the needle doesn’t snap to the right hard or if it doesn’t quite get there on TEST, then that meter will go flat in mid-session and give false TA and no reads or TA on hot subjects.” LRH (HCOB 24 Oct 71RA, False TA)
NOTE: To ensure an accurate check, the meter should be turned on a minute or two before turning to test.
2. IS THE METER TRIMMED CORRECTLY? ________
Handling:
“A meter can be improperly trimmed (not set at 2.0 with the trim knob) and can give a false TA position. When a meter is not left on a minute or two before trimming, it can drift in the session and give a slightly false TA.
“The trim can quietly be checked in mid-session by snapping out the jack where the cord goes into the box and putting the TA on 2, seeing if the needle is now on SET. If not, the trim knob can be moved to adjust it. The jack is quietly slipped back in. All without distracting the pc.” LRH (HCOB 24 Oct 71RA, False TA)
3. ARE THE LEADS CONNECTED TO THE METER AND CANS? ________
Handling:
“A properly set up meter with cans (electrodes) fitted to a pc who is holding them properly IS ALWAYS CORRECT.” LRH (HCOB 24 Oct 1971A)
Reference for setting up a meter is covered in E-Meter Drills book, EM 4, and the Mark VI owner’s manual if one is using a Mark VI.
4. ARE THE CANS RUSTY? ________
Handling:
“Corroded cans can falsify TA. Get new ones now and then.” LRH (HCOB 24 Oct 71A)
5. ARE PC’S HANDS EXCESSIVELY DRY REQUIRING HAND CREAM? ________
Handling:
“A quick test is have the pc put the cans under his armpits and you’ll see if it’s his callused or chemically dried out hands. The excessively dry hand is seen as shiny or polished looking. It feels very dry. The correct treatment is to use a hand cream, but not a greasy hand cream or vanishing cream. A good hand cream rubs all the way into the hand and leaves no excess grease. Hand cream is usually smeared on, rubbed in and can then be thoroughly wiped off. The hands will usually produce, then, a normal TA and meter response.” LRH (HCOB 23 Nov 73RB Re-revised 25 May 1980, Dry and Wet Hands Make False TA)
6. ARE THE PC’S HANDS EXCESSIVELY WET REQUIRING POWDER?________
Handling:
“If the TA is low, check if the pc’s hands are wet. If so have him wipe them and get a new read. It is usually found that the 1.6 was really 2.0.... Have the pc wipe hands.” LRH (HCOB 24 Oct 71RA)
“Antiperspirants can be applied to too wet hands. There are many brands of these, often a powder or spray. It can be wiped off after application and should work for two to three hours.” LRH (HCOB 23 Nov 73RB)
7. THE PC IS NOT BEING TOLD CONTINUALLY TO WIPE HIS HANDS?________
Handling:
Above per wet hands.
8. THE PC’S GRIP ON THE CANS IS NOT BEING CONTINUALLY CHECKED BY THE AUDITOR IN A WAY THAT INTERRUPTS THE PC? ________
Handling:
“Keep the pc’s hands in sight. Check the pc’s grip. Get smaller cans.” LRH (HCOB 24 Oct 71RA)
8A. IS THE PC USING THE WRONG TYPE OF CANS? ________
a) corrugated ________
b) cellophane bonded to metal ________
c) wrong metal ________
The right metal is tin-plated steel, not cellophane bonded or painted.
Handling:
Replace with the correct cans. “Cans of course should be STEEL with a thin tin plating.” LRH (HCOB 24 Oct 71RA)
8B. ARE THE CANS TOO SHORT FOR THE PC’S HANDS TO COVER? ________
Handling:
Replace with cans of correct length so that the whole hand has contact with the can. (Ref. HCOB 24 Oct 71RA)
9. TA POSITION FOR LARGE CANS? ________
Size approx 4½ inches by 3 inches or 11 cm by 8 cm
Handling:
“For a normal or large handed pc the can size is about 4” inches by 2 5/8 inches or 12% cm by 7 cm. This can be altered as big as 4 1/2 inches by 3 inches diameter or 11 cm by 8 cm. This is standard.” LRH (HCOB 24 Oct 71 A)
10. TA POSITION ON MEDIUM CANS? ________
Size approx 4 7/8 inches by 2 5/8 inches or 12½ cm by 7 cm
Handling: Covered above.
11. TA POSITION ON SMALL CANS? ________
Size approx 3 3/4 inches by 21/8 inches or 9 cm by 5 cm
Handling:
“This can should be 3 3/4 inches by 2 1/8 inches or 9 cm by 5 cm diameter or thereabouts. A small child would be lost even with that can. So a small 35 mm film can could be used. This is 2 inches long by 1 3/16 diameter or 5 cm by 3 cm. This works but watch it as these cans are aluminum. They do work but test for true read with a slightly larger can and then trim to adjust for the aluminum if any different.
“Cans of course should be STEEL with a thin tin plating. Regular soup cans. Can size to match the pc avoids slack can grip or tiring the hands into going slack, giving the auditor 3.2 F/Ns and trouble.” LRH (HCOB 24 Oct 71RA)
11A. CAN SIZE FOR A CHILD IS INCORRECT? ________
Handling:
Size can go down to photographic aluminum 35 mm film cans for a child. Size approx 2 inches by 13/l6 inches or 5 cm by 3 cm. Note down TA position.
11B. IF THE ABOVE MENTIONED CAN SIZES AREN’T CORRECT FOR THE PC’S HANDS OTHER SIZES CAN BE TRIED. ________
Handling:
1¼” tubing or 1¾” tubing as well as other can size checked to see which fits the pc’s hand. Note TA position.
12. ARE THE CANS TOO LARGE FOR THE PC? ________
Handling:
“Can size to match the pc avoids slack can grip or tiring the hands into going slack.” LRH (HCOB 24 Oct 71A)
Check the pc’s grip and see if the hand is touching all of the can and if the size is comfortable. (Ref. HCOB 13 Jan 77RB, Handling a False TA)
13. ARE THE CANS TOO SMALL FOR THE PC? ________
Handling:
Per above. Check how the pc is holding the cans and if the entire hand is on the cans and if they are comfortable and adjust accordingly per above.
14. ARE THE CANS JUST RIGHT FOR THE PC? ________
Handling:
Check the grip and see if the can size is correct for the pc. Do the cans comfortably fit the pc’s hands with the hand touching the cans so it gets an accurate reading on the meter? If the can size is correct then you must ensure that the grip is also correct on the cans.
15. ARE THE CANS COLD? ________
Handling:
“Regardless of can size, cold E-Meter electrodes tend to give a much higher tone arm reading particularly on some pcs.
“Until the cans warm up, the reading is generally false and is false in the direction of high. Some pcs are ‘cool blooded’ and the shock of ice-cold cans can drive the TA up and it takes a while to drift down.
“A practice which gets around this is for the auditor or Examiner to hold the cans briefly until they are warm and then give them to the pc. A variation is for the auditor or Examiner to put the cans under his armpits while setting up. This warms them. There are probably many other ways to warm up cans to body temperature.” LRH (HCOB 12 Nov 71RB)
15A. DID THE PC WASH HIS HANDS JUST BEFORE SESSION? ________
Handling:
Use a bit of hand cream to bring hands back to normal amount of moisture.
16. ARE THE PC’S HANDS DRY OR CALLUSED?________
Handling:
Covered above under pc’s hands excessively dry requiring hand cream. There are ways to apply the hand cream so that it is correct for that individual pc and does handle the false TA. You can spread it on extensively then wipe it off and then rub a bit more in ensuring the thumbs are included is one way. (Ref. HCOB 13 Jan 77RB)
The point is to feel the hands with the cream on them to see if it has handled the excessively dry hand that is seen as shiny or polished looking. And it now should no longer feel dry. (HCOB 23 Nov 73RB Re-revised 25 May 80)
The correct treatment is to use a hand cream but not greasy hand cream or vanishing cream.
A good hand cream rubs all the way into the skin and leaves no excess grease. This restores normal electrical contact. Such a hand cream would only have to be applied once per session — at session start — as it lasts for a long while.
If a cream leaves smears on a can, it is too heavily applied or too little absorbed. (HCOB 23 Apr 75A Re-revised 25 May 80)
17. DOES THE PC HAVE ARTHRITIC HANDS? ________
Handling:
“A rare pc is so crippled with arthritis that he doesn’t make contact fully with the cans. This gives high TA. Use wide wrist straps and you’ll get a right read.” LRH (HCOB 24 Oct 71RA Re-revised 25 May 80)
18. DOES THE PC LOOSEN HIS GRIP ON THE CANS? ________
Handling:
Check the grip. Does the angle of the cans go across the palms of the pc? Is the natural curl of the fingers sufficient to hold the cans in place, and is the placement of the cans at an angle ensuring that the maximum skin area is touching the cans? (Ref. BOOK OF E-METER DRILLS)
See if the palm is touching the can and not elevated off. (Ref. HCOB 13 Jan 77RB)
19. CHECK THE PC’S GRIP, DOES HE HOLD THE CANS CORRECTLY?________
Handling:
Covered in above section. Also check to see if the pc is holding the cans so tight that it is causing the hands to sweat and read falsely low. (Ref. HCOB 13 Jan 77RB and HCOB 7 Feb 79R, E-Meter Drill 5RA)
20. IS THE PC HOT? ________
Handling:
Get a fan in the room or handle the room so that it is cooler and the pc comfortable.
21. HAS THE PC SLEPT WELL? ________
Handling:
Don’t audit a pc who has not had sufficient rest or is physically tired. (Ref. HCO PL 14 Oct 68RA, The Auditor’s Code)
22. IS THE PC COLD? ________
Handling:
“A pc who is too cold sometimes has a falsely high TA. Wrap him in a blanket or get a warmer auditing room. The auditing environment is the responsibility of the auditor.” LRH (HCOB 24 Oct 71RA)
23. IS THE PC HUNGRY? ________
Handling:
Get the pc something to eat and don’t audit a pc who has not had enough to eat or is hungry. (Ref. HCO PL 14 Oct 68A, The Auditor’s Code)
24. IS IT TOO LATE AT NIGHT? ________
Handling:
“Between 2 and 3 a.m. or late at night a pc’s TA may be very high. The time depends on when he sleeps usually. This TA will be found normal in regular hours.” LRH (HCOB 24 Oct 71RA)
25. IS THE AUDITING BEING DONE NOT IN THE-PC’S NORMAL REGULAR AWAKE HOURS? ________
Handling: Covered above.
26. ARE THERE RINGS ON THE PC’S HANDS? ________
Handling:
“Rings on the pc’s hands must always be removed. They don’t influence TA but they give a false rock slam.” LRH (HCOB 24 Oct 71)
If the rings can’t come off use a small strip of paper around them to shield the rings touching the can.
27. IS THE PC WEARING TIGHT SHOES? ________
Handling:
Remove them. (Ref. HCOB 24 Oct 71RA, HCOB 13 Jan 77RB)
28. IS THE PC WEARING TIGHT CLOTHES?________
Handling:
If it turns out that tight clothing is affecting the TA ensure that the pc doesn’t wear tight clothes in future sessions. If possible have the pc remove the tight clothing and see what the effect was that it had on the TA and make sure no more tight clothes are worn in future sessions.
29. IS THE PC USING THE WRONG HAND CREAM? ________
Handling:
Using the reference materials find the right hand cream and test it on the pc. Note TA position.
30. IS THE APPLICATION OF THE HAND CREAM CORRECT AND DOES IT COVER THE ENTIRE HAND? ________
Handling:
Watch how the pc puts on hand cream and see if it covers the entire hand, thumb included. If not then have the pc put on hand cream covering the entire hand and pick up the cans and note TA position. Some pcs may have to put cream on and wipe it off and then reapply it. (Ref. HCOB 13 Jan 77RB)
31. IS THE CHAIR THE PC IS SITTING IN COMFORTABLE? ________
Handling:
Get a new chair that is comfortable for the pc.
32. IS IT ACTUALLY A CHRONIC HIGH OR LOW TA CASE CONDITION? ________
Handling:
C/S Series 53 Assessment or Hi-Lo TA Assessment. Done to F/Ning assessment. So standard tech handles the high and low TA. The C/S Series gives more data on the subject.
33. HAS THE PC GONE INTO DESPAIR OVER HIS TA? ________
Handling:
Handle the false TA with using this list as a guideline so that the cause of false TA is found and fully handled with the pc by the various handlings covered above. When false TA is handled check TA worries, TA hassles and L1C best read.
This handling sheet is used in conjunction with the items that are checked. This gives you the way to handle them.
Refer to reference material in reference section above for further data on handling a false TA.