**We Finally Have a Blood Test to Diagnose Chronic Fatigue Syndrome**
*By Dwaipayan Roy | Oct 08, 2025, 05:13 PM*
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**What’s the Story?**
Scientists have developed the world’s first blood test to diagnose myalgic encephalomyelitis, commonly known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). This significant breakthrough comes from a collaborative team at the University of East Anglia (UEA) Norwich Medical School and Oxford Biodynamics (OBD).
Until now, there has been no definitive diagnostic test for this debilitating condition, often resulting in years of undiagnosed or misdiagnosed cases. This new development promises to change that.
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**Test Development: A Potential Game-Changer**
The lead researcher, Professor Dmitry Pshezhetskiy, highlighted that this blood test could revolutionize ME/CFS diagnosis and management. Traditionally, ME/CFS has been misunderstood as a psychological disorder, mainly because of the lack of objective testing methods.
The research team focused on studying DNA folding patterns in patients with severe ME/CFS, which led them to create this groundbreaking diagnostic tool.
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**Test Accuracy: High Sensitivity and Specificity**
In their study, blood samples were collected from 47 patients with severe ME/CFS and 61 healthy adults. Researchers discovered a unique DNA folding pattern present only in the ME/CFS patients and absent in healthy individuals.
The test demonstrated a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 98%, indicating that it is highly reliable for diagnosing this complex disease.
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**Expert Opinions and the Road Ahead**
While the results are promising, experts urge caution. Dr. Charles Shepherd from the ME Association emphasized the importance of further studies to validate these findings.
He pointed out that a diagnostic blood test must maintain high sensitivity and specificity and stressed the need to determine whether these DNA abnormalities are also present in early-stage ME/CFS, as well as in mild or moderate cases.
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This innovative blood test marks a hopeful step towards better understanding and managing chronic fatigue syndrome, potentially transforming the lives of millions affected worldwide.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/science/breakthrough-blood-test-can-diagnose-chronic-fatigue-syndrome/story
