UEA and Oxford BioDynamics develop a 96% accurate blood test to diagnose ME/CFS, offering hope to millions worldwide.
Hope might finally be on the horizon for millions living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome .Scientists at the University of East Anglia and Oxford BioDynamics have developed a highly accurate blood test to diagnose Chronic Fatigue Syndrome , also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis .
The debilitating long-term illness affects millions worldwide, including more than 400,000 people in the UK, but has long lacked a definitive diagnostic tool. The new test, which boasts a 96 percent accuracy rate, offers a major step forward for patients who have often faced years of uncertainty and misdiagnosis.Researchers also believe the discovery could pave the way for a similar test to diagnose long Covid, which shares several symptoms with ME/CFS.Lead researcher Prof Dmitry Pshezhetskiy from UEA’s 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’. With no definitive tests, many patients have gone undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for years.”Decoding the body’s foldsThe team used advanced EpiSwitch® 3D Genomics technology from Oxford BioDynamics to study how DNA folds within cells, a process that affects which genes turn on or off. The study analyzed blood samples from 47 patients with severe ME/CFS and 61 healthy controls, revealing a unique pattern consistently present in patients with the condition.Each human cell contains about two meters of DNA tightly folded in complex 3D structures. These folds form a “hidden code” that helps regulate biological processes, and changes in these patterns can reflect disease.“Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is not a genetic disease you’re born with,” said Alexandre Akoulitchev, Chief Scientific Officer at Oxford BioDynamics. “That’s why using EpiSwitch ‘epigenetic’ markers — which can change during a person’s life — was key to reaching this high level of accuracy.”He added, “With this breakthrough, we are proud to enable a first-in-class test that can address an unmet need for a quick and reliable diagnostic for a complex, challenging-to-identify illness.”This same approach has previously proven effective in detecting diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, ALS, and prostate cancer.A vital step forwardThe new test demonstrated 92 percent sensitivity and 98 percent specificity, showing how well it excludes healthy individuals. The researchers also uncovered signs of immune and inflammation pathways involved in the disease, which could help guide treatment in the future.“This is a significant step forward,” said Prof Pshezhetskiy. “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.”He added that understanding the biological pathways involved “opens the door to developing targeted treatments and identifying which patients might benefit most from specific therapies.”Researchers hope the EpiSwitch® CFS test could soon become a vital diagnostic tool in clinical settings, offering more personalized and effective care for patients.The study was led by the University of East Anglia and Oxford BioDynamics, in collaboration with The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust. The findings have been published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diagnosis Episwitch Long Covid ME/CFS Oxford Biodynamics University Of East Anglia
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