Pagano, J S · Reviews of infectious diseases · 1991 · DOI
This paper reviews different laboratory techniques for detecting Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a common virus that some researchers suspect might play a role in ME/CFS. The authors explain that newer methods like genetic testing and blood analysis are much faster and more accurate than older traditional tests, and could help scientists understand whether EBV actually causes chronic fatigue syndrome.
Since EBV reactivation has been proposed as a potential contributing factor to ME/CFS, having accurate methods to detect and characterize viral infection is critical. Better diagnostic tools could help researchers determine whether EBV plays a causal role in ME/CFS or is merely a coincidental finding, which would inform treatment strategies and mechanistic research.
This is a methodological review, not a primary research study, so it does not provide new data proving or disproving that EBV causes ME/CFS. The paper only describes available detection techniques; it does not test these methods in ME/CFS patients or establish any causal relationship between EBV and the disease.
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
Pagano, J S (1991). Detection of Epstein-Barr virus with molecular hybridization techniques.. Reviews of infectious diseases. https://doi.org/10.1093/clinids/13.supplement_1.s123
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-pagano-1991-detection-epstein,
author = {Pagano, J S},
title = {Detection of Epstein-Barr virus with molecular hybridization techniques.},
journal = {Reviews of infectious diseases},
year = {1991},
doi = {10.1093/clinids/13.supplement_1.s123},
note = {PubMed: 1850538},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/pagano-1991-detection-epstein},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-30. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/pagano-1991-detection-epstein
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