Test for viruses

Brain and nerves
1

The Guardian in UK is reporting on a new test developed by researchers in Boston, USA, which will detect every virus a patient had been infected with over their lifetime, by finding the anti-bodies which the person's body has produced. This works even if there are no longer any symptoms. What's more, it is a cheap and quick test ($25/£16).

What do you think? Could help at least some people suffering CFS/ME? Particularly those who first developed this ailment after a viral infection?

Jean

2

hi jeanp. love the pic. thank u for alerting us to this article. it sounds great news. do u have a link to the article. i'd love to read it.

with thanks

Caitlin.

3

I would definitely have this test would you?  I'd be so interested to read every virus I've ever had.  Don't know if my GP would do anything about the results, but I'd sure love to have them for my personal records.

4

Hi Caitlin. I just sent you the name of a website to look at but its gone for moderation! Just type in 'test to find every virus you have ever had' and you will get loads of info come up. Mary

5

thank u Mary. that's most kind. i'll google and see what comes up.

Caitlin

6

It's cheap enough too!  Gives me hope that one day there will be treatment and maybe even a cure for ME and CFS etc! Can't come soon enough can it guys! 😳 We want our lives back!

7

Perhaps this will be the key to positive diagnoses where certain viruses show a pattern of being precursors tp various invisible ailments.

8

Hi Jean

I wonder when this news broke out !

Fantastic news for us all, hey ?

Jinny 🎈🎈🎈🎈

9

yes George, my thoughts precisely. it would mean not being humilated & disbelieved, whilst loosing our health, livelihoods and all the loss that goes with this condition.

10

That's very interesting indeed Jean and might well point up some viral causes for ME/CFS that hadn't been obvious.

We know that many sufferers have started their journey with CFS after a Glandular Fever diagnosis, I know I was and was very ill for quite a while and then went straight into the ME but many aren't that sure what the trigger was and this sort of test might well at least confirm when it's a viral instigator that has been the problem...

 

11

Here's the Guardian URL:

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/jun/04/new-test-uses-a-single-drop-of-blood-to-reveal-entire-history-of-viral-infections

Or as Mary says, google it.

Thanks for all your comments; will reply later, no time at the moment!

Jean

12

big thanks JeanP.

caitlin

13

great share Jean, thank you

had a virus for a school term when I was about 10 but no one can remember what it was, I've always wanted to know

14

Thank you very much for that Jean, it's incredibly helpful.  Like others, I had Glandular Fever too, first when I was 10, then at 38, 42, 44 and 47. But for me, the M.E came after an acute stomach bug I caught when I was 50, working at a taxi company Call Centre.  They had one loo for 30 people!!  All the time i was there (3 months), the loo was never cleaned!!! I was on an unpaid job placement, and after I was rushed to A&E with the stomach bug, I lost the job!!  I was SO glad as it wasn't a nice place to work, for nothing OR wages!!

15

Thank you Jean ...really interesting x

16

Sounds like a good idea but perhaps a flaw might be that when our immune systems are severely compromised they might not have been able to produce antibodies for certain viruses and bacteria?

Great the research and tests are going on though. 

17

I should explain that since I was a child I've had adverse reactions to toxic chemicals and pylons etc so when I, years later, got a really bad virus before ME my body may not have been able to recognise the virus so not producing antibodies for it, which could explain why I'm sick with ME?

They can't find antibodies that never existed and viruses are evolving all the time; our immune systems just can't keep up due to environmental factors among other things. It's like trying to recognise the person that mugged you when it was dark and they were wearing a hoody?

I'm hopeful for this working though. 

18

a strong possibility.................?

19

I'm nearly there with a science degree Cailtin so I look at the other side of things. That's not to say that a cure won't be found and hopefully I'll recognise the best research if they come up with it and I'll see it and recognise if it'll work for me and other people. This one I'm doubtful about. 

 

20

Ok lets look at the scenario of them finding a particular virus that causes ME through looking at our antibodies, they'll then have to invent a drug to fight it. That'll be hit and miss and cost a lot of money and are big pharma interested enough?