Patent ID: 6214554
Filing Date: 2001-04-10
Classification: C12Q,G01N

Abstract:
A method for diagnosing chronic fatigue syndrome comprising:(a) contacting a patient sample with a probe compound comprising a compound according to formula I bearing a detectable label, under conditions sufficient to form covalent conjugates of said probe compound and 2',5'-oligoadenylate-binding proteins in the sample: ##STR3##whereinm is an integer from 0 to 3,n is an integer from 1 to 3, andeach R.sub.1 and each R.sub.2 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and N.sub.3, provided at least one of R.sub.1 or one of R.sub.2 is N.sub.3, or a water soluble salt of said compound;(b) contacting the sample containing said covalent conjugates with an antibody which binds RNase L species in the sample;(c) separating the proteins in said sample by gel electrophoresis; and(d) examining said proteins separated by said gel electrophoresis for the presence of proteins of about 37 kDa apparent molecular weight according to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, which proteins(i) have formed a covalent conjugate with the probe compound, and(ii) are bound by said antibody;the presence of said about 37 kDa apparent molecular weight proteins which have formed covalent conjugates with the probe compound and which are bound by said antibody being diagnostic for chronic fatigue syndrome.