Chronic fatigue tests being sold online

Sly Saint

Sly Saint

Senior Member (Voting Rights)
This company appears to be selling a test which it describes as

TATT or 'tired all the time' is one of the most common complaints that female patients present to their GP's with. Often they are busy mums who are juggling many balls, and it is no surprise to their GP's that they are exhausted.

We have a test pack that screens for the common medical conditions of diabetes, under-active thyroid, diabetes and contains a kidney and liver check urine check.
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Chronic Fatigue Tests


Tired All The Time Chronic Fatigue Test Kits

Regular price £15.99

the problem is the link to the test comes after they explain that
What is Chronic Fatigue
When doctors refer to chronic fatigue they are usually referring to chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis also known as ME

However chronic fatigue can be a symptom of many health conditions and is not exclusive to ME.

It is more common in women than men and tends to develop during the child bearing years. It is increasingly being seen in teenagers and young adults.

Main symptoms of Chronic Fatigue
  • Chronic fatigue is a persistent disabling mental and physical exhaustion that is not relieved by sleep or rest that impacts negatively on your everyday life
Other symptoms that may be associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Many of the associated symptoms are non specific and may also be associated with many other conditions including chronic stress.

  • Symptoms may be made worse by exercise
  • There may be an associated sleep disturbance
  • Joint and muscle aches
  • Difficulty concentrating and remembering
  • It may follow from a viral flu like illness or sore throat
  • Nausea
  • Palpitations
Other causes of Chronic Fatigue
As the symptoms are non specific, and there is no reliable test for ME, it is often a diagnosis of exclusion. This means that it is important to exclude other medical conditions that may cause the symptoms.

Conditions that may need to excluded:
  • Diabetes
  • Under-active Thyroid
  • Kidney or liver disease
  • Depression
  • Chronic stress
  • Other underlying medical conditions
What actually causes Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
As yet doctors do not really know what causes chronic fatigue syndrome. There are several theories as to what the causes may be and in fact there are probably multiple causes and they may work in combination:

  • Post viral after a throat infection or flu virus in a similar way to the symptoms that can develop after glandular fever
  • Chronic stress and overstimulation of the 'fight or flight reflex' may lead to a condition known commonly as 'adrenal burnout'
  • Hormone imbalances
  • Immune imbalances
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome treatment
Once other causes of chronic fatigue have been excluded, treatment is aimed at improving the symptoms, as the condition usually improves and resolves with time.

Things that may help reduce symptoms of CFS:
  • A gentle graded exercise program that gradually increases
  • Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)
  • Chronic fatigue is often associated with chronic stress and 'adrenal burnout" so reducing and managing stress may be helpful.
  • Relaxation classes, pilates or Yoga may be helpful
  • If poor sleep is a problem then establish a good sleep routine-you may need to use a relaxing bedtime ritual and banish all computers, laptops, phones and TV's from bedroom. Avoid use of screens after 9pm as they emit a blue light that disturbs our natural sleep patterns
  • Consider gradually reducing caffeine intake although, this can be a problem for some who are using caffeine to keep them going.
Chronic fatigue syndrome diet
  • Eating a healthy balanced diet with lots of vegetables and reducing sugar intake can help
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far from making it clear that ME/CFS is not the same as chronic fatigue it mixes the two having said they are the same thing, and then saying they are not.

https://www.valuemed.co.uk/blogs/news/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-test

Maybe one for trading standards?

@Russell Fleming
@phil_in_bristol

eta: also the url is 'chronic-fatigue-syndrome-test'
 
Last edited:
Alvin said:
Is this legal?
Is medical testing fraud a crime?
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Probably not legal, but legal is, and always has been, relative.

Is medical testing fraud a crime?

That's a very deep philosophical question, after all almost all of medicine would appear to be guesswork, very little is known beyond the red stuff should mostly probably be on the inside, most other things look like they are just fashionable theories.

If that sounds absurd then look at what was believed only 100 years ago.

I suspect it depends on who you are, who you know, and how good your lawyers are, as to how legal medical fraud is.
 
We have a test pack that screens for the common medical conditions of diabetes, under-active thyroid, diabetes and contains a kidney and liver check urine check.
Click to expand...

That looks to me like standard blood tests to exclude other fatiguing conditions that GP's should be ordering anyway for their patients with persistent fatigue. I bet they don't cost what this company is charging.
 
Last edited:
Wonko said:
Probably not legal, but legal is, and always has been, relative.

Is medical testing fraud a crime?

That's a very deep philosophical question, after all almost all of medicine would appear to be guesswork, very little is known beyond the red stuff should mostly probably be on the inside, most other things look like they are just fashionable theories.

If that sounds absurd then look at what was believed only 100 years ago.

I suspect it depends on who you are, who you know, and how good your lawyers are, as to how legal medical fraud is.
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Forget philosophy, by current law is what they are selling legal? I'm sure there is case law defining what is legal and not legal to peddle in medical equipment and fraud.
 
Yes, that does make things clearer, thank you @Trish.

So if I was to advertise a 52" LED TV, describing it in great detail, what it could be used for, giving dimensions and wall mounting instructions etc.

and then at the bottom state that I sell popcorn, and that the £1200 I am charging for my 52" LED TV package is for popcorn only;

I would grudgingly have to accept that that may not be fraud, it is probably deception, because it's a deliberate attempt to deceive, hoping that many people will click the buy now link before getting to the last line of small print.
 
Unless I just couldn't see it, it wasn't clear how they were actually testing anything. Blood tests? Urine tests? And what are they actually testing for? The £15.99 price tells me this is just a way to waste £15.99.
 
Trish said:
That looks to me like standard blood tests to exclude other fatiguing conditions that GP's should be ordering anyway for their patients with persistent fatigue. I bet they don't cost what this company is charging.
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They don't, nothing like that amount of money if properly processed lab tests. If just finger prick and dip stick tests then more like 50x cost price so they are adding a very large 'interpretation' fee.

ETA: didn't spot mention of finger prick and dip-stick tests initially.
 
SallyC said:
They don't, nothing like that amount of money. I'd guess it's almost 10x cost price so they are adding a very large 'interpretation' fee.
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It would appear that the £1599 price shown in the original post is a copying error, not caused by the OP but by a font size change when pasted.

It looks like the price of the kit is £15.99 GBP - which puts a slightly different complexion on things, at least in my opinion.

Still junk, still misleading, but at least not £1599 ;)
 
Wonko said:
It would appear that the £1599 price shown in the original post is a copying error, not caused by the OP but by a font size change when pasted.

It looks like the price of the kit is £15.99 GBP - which puts a slightly different complexion on things, at least in my opinion.

Still junk, still misleading, but at least not £1599 ;)
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That makes more sense - thanks.
 
Trish said:
That looks to me like standard blood tests to exclude other fatiguing conditions that GP's should be ordering anyway for their patients with persistent fatigue. I bet they don't cost what this company is charging.
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Exactly what I was thinking. What would be the point in trying this test when the doctors SHOULD BE conducting these tests to begin with?
 
the test is still available. Also the site could do with an update
"
Things that may help reduce symptoms of CFS:
  • A gentle graded exercise program that gradually increases
  • Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)
  • Chronic fatigue is often associated with chronic stress and 'adrenal burnout" so reducing and managing stress may be helpful.
  • Relaxation classes, pilates or Yoga may be helpful"
 
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