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Researchers at the University of East Anglia and Oxford Biodynamics have developed the first-ever blood test capable of accurately detecting myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The test, which identifies specific DNA structural changes, demonstrated up to 98% accuracy, reports The Guardian.
Details
Lead researcher Professor Dmytro Pshezhetsky from Norwich Medical School at UEA explained that ME/CFS is a debilitating condition characterized by extreme fatigue that does not improve with rest. Many patients go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed due to the lack of definitive tests.
The researchers analyzed blood samples from 47 patients and 61 healthy individuals, identifying a DNA pattern unique to ME/CFS patients. The test shows 92% sensitivity and 98% specificity, accurately confirming the condition and ruling out false positives in healthy individuals.
Professor Pshezhetsky said, "This is a significant step forward, as we now have a simple blood test to reliably identify ME/CFS, potentially transforming diagnosis and treatment."
Oxford Biodynamics’ Chief Scientific Officer Alexander Akulichev highlighted that the use of “epigenetic” EpiSwitch markers, which can change over a person’s life, was key to achieving such high accuracy.
Criticism
Experts urge further studies to validate the test across larger patient groups. Dr. Charles Shepherd of the ME Association noted it’s an important step, while Professor Chris Ponting of the University of Edinburgh cautioned that full validation in independent studies is needed before clinical use, and the test may be expensive (around £1,000).
