September 11, 2023 – A brand new blood test enables highly accurate diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome, providing for the primary time an objective option to discover this sometimes disabling condition that's estimated to affect as much as 2.5 million people within the United States.
A research team led by the University of Oxford compared the test results of 61 individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome, 21 individuals with multiple sclerosis and 16 individuals with no known health problems. They found that the brand new test is 91% accurate, in keeping with results published within the journal. Higher ScienceIn addition, the test can distinguish between mild, moderate and severe cases of the disease in 84% of cases.
Currently, chronic fatigue syndrome is so difficult to diagnose that an estimated 9 out of 10 victims don't even know they've it. The current process for diagnosing the disease involves self-reporting of symptoms, questionnaire responses, and other subjective measures.
The recent test uses artificial intelligence to research vibrations in a single blood cell brought on by a laser. The technology used is named Raman spectroscopy and might “examine individual cells,” the authors write.
The reason for chronic fatigue syndrome is unknown, so CDCWhile fatigue lasting greater than 6 months is the predominant symptom, difficulty considering and sleeping, muscle pain, and sensitivity to light might also occur. People may experience worsening symptoms when attempting to perform normal each day activities or when sitting or standing upright. Some people could also be confined to bed for various lengths of time, making it difficult or inconceivable for them to work, go to high school, or take part in family activities.
About 7 out of 10 individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome are women, and in about 3 out of 4 cases, an infection of some kind was reported before the onset of the disease.
The researchers wrote that the brand new test could help distinguish between other conditions with similar symptoms, akin to fibromyalgia, Lyme disease and long COVID.