Nairn, C, Galbraith, D N, Clements, G B · Journal of medical virology · 1995 · DOI
Researchers tested whether two different methods of detecting enterovirus (a type of virus) could identify it in ME/CFS patients. One method looked for antibodies (immune proteins) the body makes against Coxsackie B virus, while the other used PCR to directly detect viral genetic material. They found that the PCR test was better at distinguishing ME/CFS patients from healthy people, but the antibody test could not tell the two groups apart.
This research directly addresses whether enterovirus plays a role in ME/CFS by comparing two detection methods. The finding that PCR detects enteroviral sequences more frequently in CFS patients than controls provides some evidence linking enteroviruses to the condition, which could eventually lead to better diagnostic or treatment approaches.
This study does not prove that enterovirus causes ME/CFS—it only shows an association between viral sequences and diagnosis. The cross-sectional design cannot establish temporal relationship or causality. The study also does not clarify whether detected viral sequences represent active infection, persistent infection, or contamination.
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
Nairn, C, Galbraith, D N, & Clements, G B (1995). Comparison of coxsackie B neutralisation and enteroviral PCR in chronic fatigue patients.. Journal of medical virology. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.1890460404
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-nairn-1995-comparison-coxsackie,
author = {Nairn, C and Galbraith, D N and Clements, G B},
title = {Comparison of coxsackie B neutralisation and enteroviral PCR in chronic fatigue patients.},
journal = {Journal of medical virology},
year = {1995},
doi = {10.1002/jmv.1890460404},
note = {PubMed: 7595406},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/nairn-1995-comparison-coxsackie},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-28. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/nairn-1995-comparison-coxsackie
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