Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria

UK ME/CFS Biobank inclusion and exclusion criteria

(Please note that currently recruitment is CLOSED for this study)

Inclusion criteria:

• Aged 18-60 years.
• ME/CFS cases must have a clinical diagnosis using CCC and/or CDC 1994 criteria.
• MS cases must have a confirmed diagnosis made by an NHS consultant neurologist according to NICE guidelines.
• Informed consent given.

Exclusion criteria:

• Recent (in the preceding 3 months) use of drugs known to alter immune function (e.g. azathioprine, cyclosporine, methotrexate, steroids), use of anti-viral medications, or vaccination (e.g. ‘flu).
• History of acute or chronic infectious diseases such as hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis, HIV (but not herpes virus or other retrovirus infection).
• Other severe illnesses (e.g. cancer).
• Psychiatric diagnosis (e.g. schizophrenia or severe mood disorder, such as current severe depression).
• Pregnant women and those within 12 months’ post-partum and/or currently lactating.
• For MS cases, conditions other than MS that could explain their chronic fatigue.
• For “healthy controls”, current or past fatiguing illness and/or other major morbidity.