Fibromyalgia blood test could become reality

Instead of struggling to get a diagnosis, imagine being able to walk into a doctor’s office to get a simple blood test for fibromyalgia. This dream may become a reality thanks to new research being done by scientists at King’s College London. They recently received a large grant to help them create a reliable blood test that could diagnose fibromyalgia.


Patients often find it difficult to get a fibromyalgia diagnosis because of the variety of symptoms and lack of understanding about the disease. Some fibromyalgia symptoms, such as insomnia, fatigue and chronic pain, are shared with other medical conditions. Often, doctors attempt to use a process of elimination to diagnose patients who are suffering from fibromyalgia, but a misdiagnosis is a common problem.

Researchers at King’s College London are working on a new blood test for fibromyalgia. They are studying 400 twins to determine DNA biomarkers for pain. They hope to increase knowledge about pain pathways while finding a biomarker they can use for a simple blood test. This would allow patients to be diagnosed easier and allow them to get treatment faster.

Currently, there are no official blood tests that can confirm the presence of fibromyalgia. However, some doctors use the FM/a blood test to try to diagnose fibromyalgia. The test comes with a large price tag of $744 that may not be covered by insurance. In addition, the Arthritis & Osteoporosis WA foundation states that the test is controversial and warns that patients need to remember the old saying of “Caveat emptor (let the buyer beware).” Professor Fred Wolfe has criticized the test and believes it is not capable of diagnosing fibromyalgia. This is why researchers at King’s College London want to create a better and more reliable blood test that will eliminate concerns about diagnosis.

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