I think so too Sasha
What criteria will be used to select donors?
All selected donors must have received a diagnosis of M.E./CFS at some time in the past. However, as there are inconsistencies in how the diagnosis is made in primary, secondary or tertiary care, it is essential that all cases are newly assessed by a health professional trained in the diagnosis of M.E./CFS. Patients will be assessed on whether they fulfill the
CDC-1994 (Fukuda) criteria and the Canadian 2003 criteria.
Since cases meeting the Canadian criteria have been shown in most cases to also meet the Fukuda criteria, this will enable the sub-grouping of cases into those meeting and not meeting the Canadian criteria, throwing light on the appropriateness of the different classifications. In due course comprehensive phenotyping (Phenotyping =.categorizing patients based on their clinical information) of patients may enable categorisation of individuals according to other clinical criteria.
Patients will be excluded from donating samples if they have
recently used (in the preceding three months) drugs known to alter immune function, eg. anti-viral medications and vaccinations
acute and chronic infectious diseases such as hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis, HIV
(but not herpes virus or other retrovirus infection)
other severe illness and mood disorders.