For the first time, scientists have developed a simple, accurate blood test that can potentially identify Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) — a long-term, debilitating condition that affects millions of patients worldwide.
The study (published in the Journal of Translational Medicine), led by the University of East Anglia in partnership with Oxford BioDynamics, used cutting-edge 3D genomic technology to look at how DNA is folded inside blood cells. Just like origami, the shape and folds of DNA control which genes are switched on or off.
The team discovered a distinctive pattern of these folds that appears only in people with ME/CFS — providing a clear biological “fingerprint” of the disease. Using this pattern, the researchers created a blood test that can diagnose ME/CFS with 96% accuracy. Until now, doctors have had to rely on symptoms alone and rule out other illnesses, a process that can take years. This test offers the potential for quicker, more confident diagnoses and could end the uncertainty many patients face.
Beyond diagnosis, the findings also point toward disrupted immune and inflammation pathways, which may help scientists develop targeted treatments in the future. The same approach could even pave the way for a similar test for Long Covid, which shares many of the same biological features as ME/CFS.
This discovery marks an important turning point: it brings scientific validation to patients whose symptoms have too often been dismissed, and it opens the door to better understanding, earlier support, and more effective care for people living with this complex condition.
On Tuesday, January 15, 2026 from 9-10 am PT / 12-1 pm ET, Solve President and CEO Emily Taylor will host a webinar with research team members Dr. Dmitry Pshezhetskiy (University of East Anglia), Dr. Alexandre Akoulitchev, MA, PhD, FRSM (Chief Scientific Officer, Oxford BioDynamics), Bartu Ahiska (Senior Director, Commercial Development & Marketing Comms, Oxford BioDynamics), and Ewan Hunter (Chief Data and Technology Officer, Oxford BioDynamics), who will discuss the development of their new blood-based assay, the EpiSwitch CFS test, and its potential impact on diagnosing and treating people with ME/CFS and Long Covid.
Register for the webinar here and read our easy-to-understand summary of the team’s study here.