Simple blood test could provide first reliable diagnosis for ME

Scientists have found biological signatures in the blood of people with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), a breakthrough that could lead to the first reliable test for the debilitating condition.

ME, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), affects an estimated 400,000 people in the UK. Symptoms can include pain, brain fog and extremely low energy levels that do not improve with rest. These often become dramatically worse after even minor physical effort, a phenomenon known as post-exertional malaise. There is no cure and the cause is unknown.

A diagnosis is typically made by ­ruling out other illnesses, a process that can take years. The new study, led by ­researchers from Edinburgh University, may mark a turning point.

Professor Chris Ponting, of the university’s Institute of Genetics and Cancer, said: “For so long people with ME/CFS have been told it’s all in their head. It’s not. We see [it] in their blood.

“Evidence of a large number of replicated and diverse blood biomarkers that differentiate between ME/CFS cases and controls should dispel any lingering perception it is caused by deconditioning and exercise intolerance.”

Read full story (paywalled)

Source: The Times, 20 June 2025

Related reading on the hub:

• Exploring the barriers that impact access to NHS care for people with ME and Long Covid