In establishing a link between the XMRV retrovirus, the proliferation of CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), and the possible danger to the blood supply network, testing finally has been ordered in the midst of all this controversy. It’s about time! As reported by the CFIDS Association of America:
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Blood XMRV Scientific Research Working Group has been established to delineate the research studies that should be undertaken to evaluate whether XMRV represents a risk to the safety of the blood supply. As a first step in this evaluation, analytical panels are being developed by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Retrovirus Epidemiology Donor Study-II (REDS-II) that will allow for multiple laboratories to standardize methods to optimize sensitive detection of XMRV proviral DNA and viral RNA. Once methods are standardized, these same laboratories will test coded panels of blood samples obtained primarily from healthy blood donors and from CFS patients who have been reported to be positive for XMRV.
This study needs to be done to prove or disprove the facts about the relationship bettween XMRV, CFS and the blood supply.
Personally, I never gave blood because of how incredibly ill I was with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in 1990. I remember reading at the time (probably from the CFIDS Association of America!) that there was a question of transmissability and “whatever the cause of CFS” was might show up in the blood supply and cause a more widespread problem. Whether I was wise or simply overly cautious remains to be seen.
Either way, now is the time to get the answer to this important question. We all need to know. This issue could be vital in getting a handle on the number of people who “get” CFS each year.
Let’s expect the answer from the Department of Health and Human Services Blood XMRV Scientific Research Working Group as soon as possible. And thanks to the CFIDS Association of America for the fine work they’ve done for so many years concerning all issues of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome!
To your health and mine,
Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show
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