CDC Multi-site Clinical Assessment of CFS

The CDC Multi-site Clinical Assessment of CFS is a research study that began in 2012, led by Dr. Elizabeth Unger at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). It aims to recruit 450 patients aged 18-70 years old from seven clinical sites in the United States with a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), post-infective fatigue or myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME).

Selection criteria
The study's criteria are described as:

"Any patient (aged 18 – 70 years) that is managed or diagnosed with CFS, post-infective fatigue (PIF) or myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) at any of the seven participating clinical sites is eligible for participation in this study. Clinicians from each participating clinical site will determine whether a patient has CFS based on their clinical experience and expertise in CFS."

Compliance with a specific case definition, such as Fukuda criteria or Canadian Consensus Criteria is not necessary. The participating physician may use his or her best judgement as to whether a patient meets the diagnosis. In doing so, the study hopes to be able to identify a consensus about a case definition based on biologic measures, as well as sub-sets of the illness which can individualized treatments.

Participating clinical sites

 * Pain and Fatigue Study Center, NY - Dr. Benjamin Natelson, Director
 * Center for Neuro-Immune Disorders, FL (now called Institute for Neuro Immune Medicine) - Dr. Nancy Klimas, Director
 * Open Medicine Institute (OMI) consortium
 * Open Medicine Clinic, CA - Dr. Andreas Kogelnik, Director
 * Sierra Internal Medicine Associates, NV - Dr. Daniel Peterson, Director
 * Fatigue Consultation Clinic, UT (now called the Bateman Horne Center) - Dr. Lucinda Bateman, Medical Director
 * Hunter-Hopkins Center, NC - Dr. Charles Lapp, Director
 * Richard Podell Clinic, NJ - Dr. Richard Podell, Director

Preliminary data
At the CDC Grand Rounds event in February 2016 Doctor Elizabeth Unger showed the following slide summarizing the function of the study's patient group. The red markers show normal values for healthy people. The blue boxes represent the range for study participants, with the diamonds showing the study participants' average score. The chart demonstrates near-normal mental health and emotional role functioning, but very poor physical function.



Notable people

 * Elizabeth Unger

Learn more

 * Centers for Disease Control - Multi-site Clinical Assessment of CFS
 * 2013, Redefining ME/CFS? CDC Chief Reveals First Fruits of Multi-Center Doctor Study at FDA Stakeholder Meeting
 * 2014, CDC Provides Status Updates on ME/CFS Work
 * 2014, CDC Multi-site Study – An interview with Beth Unger
 * 2014, Methodology for the CDC Multi-site Clinical Study
 * 2014, Is CDC Out to Bury PEM? (Mindy Kitei)
 * 2014, The CDC’s Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Multisite Studies


 * 2016, CDC study finds CFS is physical, not mental
 * 2016, Hear More on Tuesday about NIH study during CDC’s Grand Rounds