Testing

From: 'Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, A Roadmap for Testing and Treatment' <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/cfstestingandtreatmentroadmap/home">https://sites.google.com/site/cfstestingandtreatmentroadmap/home</a>

Coxsackievirus B and echovirus antibody neutralization test. Dr Chia found that the only blood test sensitive enough to reliably detect chronic enterovirus infections in ME/CFS patients is the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaque_reduction_neutralization_test" target="blank" rel="nofollow" >plaque reduction neutralization test</a> or the similar microneutralization assay, but such neutralization tests are rare, and only available at a few labs. ARUP Lab in Utah has such microneutralization antibody tests for <a href="http://ltd.aruplab.com/tests/pub/0060055" rel="nofollow" target="blank" >coxsackievirus B</a> and <a href="http://ltd.aruplab.com/tests/pub/0060053" rel="nofollow" target="blank" >echovirus</a> which cost around $440 each. These are the lab tests Dr Chia uses. Titers of 1:320 and higher in these ARUP neutralization tests are good indicators of an active infection. Dr Chia also uses the echovirus neutralizing antibody test offered by <a href="http://www.cambridgebiomedical.com/DesktopModules/Bring2mind/DMX/Download.aspx?Command=Core_Download&EntryId=1959&PortalId=0&TabId=155" target="blank" rel="nofollow" >Cambridge Biomedical</a> which costs around $390.

Stomach biopsy (immunohistochemistry). This test, which requires a sample of stomach tissue obtained by an endoscope, is the most sensitive for detecting a chronic enteroviral infection, although it will not indicate which particular CVB and EV serotypes you have. You send your stomach tissue sample to <a href="http://www.enterovirusfoundation.org/pdfs/Immunoperoxidase_Staining_Request_Form250.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" >Dr Chia's lab</a> which then tests it for enterovirus.

PCR testing is not sensitive for chronic enteroviral infections, as these viruses disappear from the blood after the acute phase of the infection is over (the acute phase of an enterovirus infection is a short window that starts just after initial exposure, and last for around 10 days).

Complement fixation test (CFT) is useless for testing enteroviral activity in chronic infections. The CFT is only of value within the acute phase (first 10 days) of an enterovirus infection.

Further info:

<a href="http://www.enterovirusfoundation.org/chronicinfections.shtml" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" >Enterovirus Foundation: Testing for chronic enteroviral infections</a>

<a href="http://www.evmedresearch.com/education/etiology.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" >Enterovirus-Associated ME/CFS Etiology</a>