XMRV virus test for chronic fatigue syndrome now available

Written by Matthew Hogg BSc (Hons)

Tuesday, 08 December 2009 18:01

XMRV virus test for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) now available

Following the breakthrough discovery of the XMRV retrovirus in a highly significant number of chronic fatigue syndrome patients a US lab is now making a diagnostic test available to the public.

Viral Immune Pathology Diagnostics (VIP Dx) based in Reno, Nevada announced that it was making the test for XMRV available to chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) patients in the United States and Canada. VIP Dx say there is already a 4-6 week wait for test kits as a result of the excitement the XMRV discover has generated among ME/CFS patients and their doctors.

The techniques used for the testing in the research study that has stunned the ME/CFS world and projected the condition into the mainstream have been licensed by VIP Dx for their own test. Dr. Vincent Lombardi, an investigator on the study and co-author of the paper that appeared in the 8 October 2009 issue of Sthe journal cience has been appointed Director of Operations for the licensing and development of the XAND test assays used by VIP Dx for the detection of XMRV.

XAND is an abbreviation for XMRV Associated Neuroimmune Disorder, the name which has been given to ME/CFS and other illnesses that may be found to be associated with the virus. Many syndromes such as fibromyalgia and Gulf War syndrome which share much in common with ME/CFS are prime candidates for future XMRV studies.

The test uses polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques which amplify fragments of genetic material to enable detection of the virus. The VIP Dx test also includes a viral culture to confirm the results.

VIP Dx provide the following information and instructions regarding the test:

Each XMRV specimen must have an XAND acceptance code on the test requisition. The XAND acceptance code is assigned by our staff and will arrive on the test requisition in your specimen kit. Specimens sent without the appropriate acceptance code may result in the delay or inability to perform the diagnostic test. The diagnostic test available for XAND* is as follows:

XAND - XMRV screen by PCR with virus culture confirmation: Test Code XAND ($650)

We are accepting XAND tests on Tuesdays and Fridays only due to the incubation period required for proper analysis. Therefore, you must have your blood drawn on Monday or Thursday and ship immediately back to us by priority overnight FedEx for receipt by us on Tuesday or Friday.

For XAND testing you must use the coded test requisition provided with your kit. Refer to the updated specimen guidelines in the right column of the test requisition for proper blood draw.

No special preparation is required for specimens; ship specimens at ambient (room) temperature. Specimens must be received within 24 hours for proper analysis. Collection and shipping instructions are included in each kit along with all required specimen tubes. The return clinical envelope and overnight airbill are also included.

To order you test kit, please e-mail your full name, address and telephone number to info@vipdx.com. There is a 4-6 week back order. VIP Dx is committed to having everyone tested who wants to be tested. Please accept our sincere apology for any delays. We thank you for your support and patience.

For more information on the XMRV/XAND test visit the VIP Dx website at: www.vipdx.com

To read more about the original XMRV ME/CFS study see: Retrovirus discovery in chronic fatigue syndrome seen as major breakthrough

Advice on what to do after you get your XMRV test results from Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum.

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written by Ed Riordan, December 16, 2009

Need to know price because doubt about insurance. Given price I will save for test. Please!

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written by Ed Riordan, December 16, 2009

need to know price, Please, please, please, please

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written by Maff, December 16, 2009

Hi Ed,

It mentions the cost of the test in the instructions from the lab above. The test is expensive at this stage - $650. The positive of this is that some of that cost goes to fund further research into ME/CFS and XMRV at the Whittemore-Peterson Institute (WPI).

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written by Steve, February 28, 2011

I had the test done in Feb 2011, and it was $549 Quest Diagnostics

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written by Maff, March 02, 2011

Steve - Would you mind sharing your results with us and telling us a bit about your illness i.e. how long you have been ill, severity etc? As a fellow ME/CFS sufferer it would be great to hear more from you. Many thanks and I hope you found the test results useful whichever way they went!