Chronic fatigue tests being sold online

This company appears to be selling a test which it describes as

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

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'

 

Is this legal?
Is medical testing fraud a crime?

 

Given that there is no test for ME (or CFS) it must by definition be a fraud.

I am not entirely sure that trading standards would be interested tho.

 

Could the advertising standards authority make them withdraw the advert? And any future advert would have to be changed so it is made clearer it is a TATT test.

 

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.

 

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.

 

https://www.valuemed.co.uk/collecti...ducts/tired-all-the-time-chronic-fatigue-test
finger prick and dip stick apparently.

 

Thanks Wonko - for some reason I wasn't seeing that.

 

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.

 

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

 

That makes more sense - thanks.

 

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?

 

this should be reported. it's a ferritin test in combination with a very basic thyroid test (just TSH i think). these should not be marketed as 'chronic fatigue tests'. even 'fatigue tests' may be illegal.

 

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"