Patent ID: 7824888

Claim:
A method of assessing if a test subject is in a state of physiological fatigue comprising: (a) preparing a saliva sample from a test subject; (b) measuring the amount of human herpesvirus 6 or 7 viruses in the saliva sample by measuring the amount of human herpesvirus 6 or 7 DNA present in the sample by polymerase chain reaction (PCR); and (c) determining if the amount of either human herpesvirus 6 or 7 in the saliva sample is higher than the average amount detected in healthy persons whose physical and mental work capability is not deteriorated, wherein a higher than average amount of either human herpesvirus 6 or 7 in saliva signifies that the test subject is experiencing a reactivated human herpsevirus 6 or 7 viral infection and wherein the higher than average amount of either human herpesvirus 6 or 7 in saliva is a positive indication of physiological fatigue.