Ho-Yen, D O, Joss, A W, Balfour, A H et al. · Journal of clinical pathology · 1992 · DOI
This study tested a laboratory technique called PCR to detect a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii in blood samples. Researchers found that PCR was fast, accurate, and sensitive enough to detect even very small amounts of the parasite. The test helped doctors decide whether patients needed treatment, especially those with weakened immune systems.
While this study addresses Toxoplasma, not ME/CFS directly, it is relevant because some ME/CFS researchers have investigated chronic latent infections as potential cofactors in disease pathogenesis. Development of sensitive molecular detection methods for intracellular pathogens may help future research clarify whether organisms like Toxoplasma contribute to ME/CFS symptoms or complicate clinical presentation.
This study does not prove that Toxoplasma causes or contributes to ME/CFS, nor does it establish any link between this parasite and myalgic encephalomyelitis. It is a technical validation study of a diagnostic method, not an epidemiological or mechanistic investigation of infection in ME/CFS populations.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
The first block is for the primary paper and is the citation you should use in research work. The atlas-snapshot line only applies if you are specifically referring to this atlas’s reading of the paper on the date shown.
Primary citation
Ho-Yen, D O, Joss, A W, Balfour, A H, Smyth, E T, Baird, D, & Chatterton, J M (1992). Use of the polymerase chain reaction to detect Toxoplasma gondii in human blood samples.. Journal of clinical pathology. https://doi.org/10.1136/jcp.45.10.910
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-ho-yen-1992-use-polymerase,
author = {Ho-Yen, D O and Joss, A W and Balfour, A H and Smyth, E T and Baird, D and Chatterton, J M},
title = {Use of the polymerase chain reaction to detect Toxoplasma gondii in human blood samples.},
journal = {Journal of clinical pathology},
year = {1992},
doi = {10.1136/jcp.45.10.910},
note = {PubMed: 1430262},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/ho-yen-1992-use-polymerase},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-26. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/ho-yen-1992-use-polymerase
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