New test for fibromyalgia has pilot study success

A finger-stick blood sample that detects fibromyalgia has been tested in a pilot study, with great success. Experts believe that it the test were widely available it could potentially knock up to five years off the wait for a diagnosis.

Scientists programmed a highly specialised microscope to recognise the particular molecular pattern (in blood spot samples) unique to people with fibromyalgia. The equipment was able to tell the difference between fibromyalgia and two types of arthritis that share some of the same symptoms.

The next step is to identify exactly which molecules are related to development of fibromyalgia, but the data are promising.

“We’ve got really good evidence of a test that could be an important aid in the diagnosis of fibromyalgia patients,” says senior author, Prof Tony Buffington. “We would like this to lead to an objective test for primary care doctors to use, which could produce a diagnosis as much as five years before it usually occurs.”