Me diagnosis hope dampened

The hopes are dampened of those trying to link ME, or post viral fatigue syndrome, to what has been considered the most likely viral candidate, and to come up with a standard diagnostic test for it.

Two hundred fifty four patients with classic ME symptoms were tested for the presence of the coxsackie B virus in a study conducted in Dunbartonshire.Researchers found that about the same number of control subjects as ME patients (half, in both cases) had evidence of the virus.

"Our experience shows that the currently available seriological tests for coxsackie B virus IGM and IGG do not help to distinguish patients with the postviral fatigue syndrome from the normal population," said the study.

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