I don't think we should dismiss the IC report as completely as some here want to. Unless it was deliberatly fraudulent (which would be an incredibly stupid thing to do, with so many other replication attempts going on) there was some genuine problem with their ability to find XMRV or the CFS XMRV link is not as strong as the WPI research might have indicated. There were differences between the WPI and IC tests, but from what I've read, virologists would be surprised if these differences in techniques explained the differing results - scientists can end up with an unwarrented confidence in their techniques and current understandings, but I'll still give their oppinions some weight at this early stage. We'll have to wait and see, but the IC work would seem to indicate that replication attempts might be more difficult than we'd hoped. The IC group also reported that they'd heard others were having difficulty replicating the WPI results, and I've seen a couple of people here post similar things. We now have this Spanish group who have put their replication attempt on hold, apparently because they were having trouble too.
The evidence to support my statements is already in this thread. I understand that a lot of people are hoping for the best with this, I am too, but to me it seems that some people are being unduly XMRV-positive in dismissing some of the worrying early reports rather than I am being negative by being worried by them. I'm really hungry for some solid news about blinded replication attempts, but so far the hints and rumours have been less good than I'd hoped.
Unless someone knows better we cannot assume why the spanish study was delayed. It could easily be funding issues. if someone knows otherwise please correct me. As to the ICl so called study, the problems with it have been well discussed on this forum. Sience is not Apolitical and has and is used a polical tool. To deny this is either niave or part of a political agenda itself.
There are so numerous instances of this and but escape me at the moment. As I am still recovering from finding out I am XMRV+ve and being the first in th UK to go public. I am sure of many better quiped could do so though. Please note, I am now not alone as Dys has now stated his status as XMRV=ve, publically. So who is correct. We will soon know but my money is on the WPI team.