Scientists from the University of East Anglia and Oxford Biodynamics have developed the world's first blood test to diagnose chronic fatigue syndrome. The breakthrough offers hope for accurate diagnosis of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS), a condition that currently has no definitive test and affects an estimated 400,000 people in the UK.
The test examines how DNA is folded in patients' blood samples to identify unique patterns that appear consistently in people with ME/CFS. Researchers analysed blood samples from 47 patients with severe ME/CFS and 61 healthy adults to develop the diagnostic tool.
The test achieved impressive accuracy rates with 92% sensitivity and 98% specificity in identifying ME/CFS patients. This means the test correctly identifies 92% of people who have the condition and accurately rules out 98% of those who don't.
Test offers validation for dismissed patients
Professor Dmitry Pshezhetskiy from UEA Norwich Medical School said: "ME/CFS is a serious and often disabling illness characterised by extreme fatigue that is not relieved by rest. We know that some patients report being ignored or even told that their illness is 'all in their head'."
The condition currently relies on symptom-based diagnosis, meaning many patients go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for years. Pshezhetskiy added: "This is a significant step forward, for the first time, we have a simple blood test that can reliably identify ME/CFS - potentially transforming how we diagnose and manage this complex disease."
The test uses EpiSwitch technology to detect epigenetic markers that can change during a person's lifetime, unlike fixed genetic code. Alexandre Akoulitchev, chief scientific officer at Oxford Biodynamics, explained this approach was key to reaching high accuracy levels.
Experts urge caution on validation
Independent experts have called for more comprehensive studies before the test enters clinical practice. Dr Charles Shepherd from the ME Association said the abnormality needs to be consistently present across all stages and severities of ME/CFS.
Professor Chris Ponting from the University of Edinburgh described some claims as "premature" and said the test requires full validation in better-designed independent studies. According to The Guardian, the test could cost approximately £1,000 per patient if implemented clinically.
The research team published their findings in the Journal of Translational Medicine. Bristol Post reports the breakthrough may also pave the way for developing diagnostic tests for long Covid, which shares similar symptoms with ME/CFS.
Sources used: "PA Media", "The Guardian", "Bristol Post", "Independent" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
