**We Finally Have a Blood Test to Diagnose Chronic Fatigue Syndrome**
*By Dwaipayan Roy | October 8, 2025, 5:13 PM*
**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 groundbreaking discovery 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 test for this debilitating condition. As a result, many patients have endured years of undiagnosed or misdiagnosed illness, often facing misunderstanding about their symptoms.
**Test Development**
The lead researcher, Professor Dmitry Pshezhetskiy, highlighted how this new blood test could revolutionize the diagnosis and management of ME/CFS. He noted that the condition has frequently been misunderstood as purely psychological because of the lack of objective diagnostic tools.
The research team focused on studying DNA folding patterns in patients suffering from severe ME/CFS. This innovative approach led to the development of a diagnostic blood test based on biological markers, rather than subjective symptom reports.
**Test Accuracy**
The study involved analyzing blood samples from 47 patients diagnosed with severe ME/CFS and 61 healthy control subjects. Researchers identified a unique pattern in the DNA folding of those affected by ME/CFS — a pattern that was notably absent in healthy individuals.
The resulting blood test demonstrated an impressive sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 98%. These figures suggest the test is highly reliable and capable of accurately distinguishing ME/CFS patients from healthy individuals.
**Expert Opinions**
Despite these promising results, experts urge caution and recommend further research to validate the findings. Dr. Charles Shepherd, from the ME Association, emphasized the necessity of a diagnostic test with very high sensitivity and specificity to confirm its clinical utility.
He also stressed the importance of determining whether this abnormal DNA folding pattern appears in early-stage ME/CFS, as well as in mild or moderate cases of the disease that have persisted over time.
**Conclusion**
This breakthrough blood test marks a significant step forward in addressing the challenges of diagnosing ME/CFS. With further validation, it holds the potential to improve patient outcomes by enabling earlier and more accurate diagnosis, reducing years of uncertainty for millions affected by this complex illness.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/science/breakthrough-blood-test-can-diagnose-chronic-fatigue-syndrome/story