The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Profile is a blood panel that checks some of the common contributors to persistent, unexplained tiredness, including past Epstein-Barr virus infection, immune cell counts, inflammation and vitamin D. It's typically used when fatigue has lasted weeks or months without an obvious cause. The panel costs £531.25, plus a £50 blood-draw fee, with results back within 5 days. You can walk in or book online at 117a Harley Street, seven days a week, with no GP referral needed.
This profile is usually requested for fatigue that has persisted for weeks or months, does not improve with rest, and has no obvious explanation such as a recent short illness or lack of sleep.
It's also used to rule out or identify some of the more common contributors to persistent tiredness, including a past viral infection, an underlying inflammatory process, or low vitamin D, before broader lifestyle or specialist investigation.
People already under investigation for chronic fatigue syndrome, or a related condition, sometimes use this panel alongside a specialist review to help build a fuller picture of possible contributing factors.
No special preparation is needed for this profile, and most people do not need to fast beforehand. The laboratory has specific handling requirements for the lymphocyte subset sample, which the clinic manages on your behalf, so simply follow any instruction given to you when you book.
Epstein-Barr antibody patterns mainly show whether you have been infected at some point, which is very common, rather than confirming that the virus is the cause of your current fatigue. Lymphocyte subset results and CRP give a snapshot of your immune activity and inflammation, and a low vitamin D is a common, treatable contributor to tiredness that is often looked at first.
None of these markers diagnoses chronic fatigue syndrome on its own; that assessment is based on your symptoms, history and the pattern of results together, usually made by a doctor. Your laboratory report will show the reference range for each marker. If your fatigue continues, book a doctor's appointment to discuss the results and what to try next.
For a doctor-led review of persistent tiredness, see the fatigue assessment at Medical Express Clinic.
Written by Mr Stephen Lingam. Reviewed by Dr Mohammad Bakhtiar.
No single blood test diagnoses chronic fatigue syndrome. This panel checks some of the common contributing factors, and a doctor uses the results alongside your symptoms and history to reach a view.
Epstein-Barr virus, the cause of glandular fever, has been linked to persistent fatigue in some people after infection. The antibody results show whether you've been exposed, though most people have been at some point in their life.
Yes, it's one of the more common and treatable contributors to tiredness, which is why it's included in this panel alongside the immune and inflammation markers.
Results are typically back within 5 days, as some of the markers, including the lymphocyte subsets, need specialist laboratory processing.