As far as I know this UK study was simply set up to 'prove the existence of XMRV in the UK' rather than particular percentages in ME patients - so it was fully expected (as far as I know) that some people related to ME patients being tested might very likely 1. not have ME or 2. XMRV.
The study was NOT set up (as far as I know) to be a study specifically of 'UK ME patients' on the face of it anyway - I think this is because, being from outside the UK, the WPI would not legally have been able to gain ethics consent to get full medical and other details of UK patients from UK doctors, hospitals or other medical centres (without a UK research team being involved, which would have been tricky given the current climate here) - so they could only do what they would be covered to do legally - but I could be entirely wrong.
Also, as Dr Mikovits will be presenting these findings today, I'm pretty sure that 1. there will be many positive results 2. once she knew these results from the lab, she will most likely and sensibly have gone back and asked these UK 50 participants for any further details (which may or may not include their ME status).
We will hopefully have all these answers by the end of the week, or if she has to publish first - on publication.
Yes, I believe that you are absolutely right here, pictureofhealth... That is my understanding also...
Also, I believe that Judy Mikovits has a particular interest in testing family members too... This is part of her research interest, and so I think that she was quite keen to have family members on board as well.
I understand dolphin's frustrations because having family members on board suggests having a watered-down final percentage of XMRV positives in the results.
But I expect that Judy will be able to sort this out and clarify the situation when she presents the results.
This study was
only set up to prove that XMRV exists in the UK, because none of the UK researchers have found any XMRV whatsoever in ME patients... Once the results have been presented (today at the conference), then hopefully this will give UK researchers the confidence to get involved.
This was never meant to be the most complex research project... It was just meant to show that XMRV exists in the UK... Personally I think we should be ultra-grateful for this... Well, I am anyway.
Dolphin, by the end of today's conference, let's hope that the WPI study will be just one amongst many, so any frustrations with the pace of research will be eased a little.
I think we are expecting quite a few XMRV research study results to be presented... Maybe 4 or 5?