As reported at the CFIDS Association of America website, Susan D. Vernon, Ph.D., states that the rigor of scientific study into the cause and effect relationship of XMRV and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) in the recent UK (United Kingdom) investigation (PLoS One) does not meet the same quality of testing as what has been (and is being) done at WPI, the Whittemore Peterson Institute, in the United States.
She gives specific examples why the PLoS ONE and WPI testing methods differ:
- The blood was collected from CFS patients in different types of blood collection tubes.
- The genomic DNA was extracted and purified using different techniques,
- The amount of genomic DNA included in the amplification assay was different,
- Different primer sequences were used that amplified different regions of the XMRV proviral DNA
- The conditions of the PCR amplification assay were different – from the numbers of cycles, to the type of polymerase used.
Her conclusion (paraphrased)…
It seems to be that the tests were not conducted on an equal footing so the results are not comparable and do not prove that XMRV does not exist nor is it not a factor in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome occurrence in the UK.
If the testing methods were not the same between the Whittemore Peterson Institute and PLoS One, then exact and comparable conclusions do not exist. Even though the controvery continues, it’s far from time to close the book on this issue.
In this case, controversy may lead to more knowledge and more specifics about the nature and cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and if some of the same causes and conditions for this illness exist in the UK. Let’s hope for full disclosure and expect complete answers.
My special thanks to the great work being done at the Whittemore Peterson Institute and to all of the participating scientists and researchers!
Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show
{ 1 trackback }
{ 0 comments… add one now }