LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--After analyzing thousands of patients, EpicGenetics today announced that its data shows that 80 percent of young people (under 19 years of age) who were tested for fibromyalgia were previously misdiagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This potentially means that a large percentage of the 6.4 million children between ages 4-17 who have been diagnosed with ADHD may be misdiagnosed and prescribed medications that might be dangerous to their long-term health and wellness.
“We need to stop treating symptoms, and first determine the correct diagnosis before prescribing drugs," said Bruce Gillis, M.D. and CEO of EpicGenetics. "By helping to diagnose children’s ailments accurately, we can provide them with a healthier, safer future."
ADHD is a diagnosis that is made on a subjective basis. Children are typically diagnosed with ADHD because they are showing symptoms of hyperactivity. Being branded as having ADHD often has negative connotations that stay with people for a lifetime.
EpicGenetics developed the FM/a® Test, the first FDA-compliant blood test that diagnoses fibromyalgia by identifying the presence of specific white blood cell abnormalities and consequential protein production abnormalities. In an effort to prevent a misdiagnosis of ADHD in children, EpicGenetics is going to offer any child the FM/a® Test at 50 percent of the normal cost. Those testing positive will be eligible to volunteer for an upcoming clinical treatment trial. There are millions of individuals, ranging from pediatric to geriatric ages, who will be candidates to have their fibromyalgia confirmed and then become eligible to volunteer for the new clinical trial.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved a human clinical trial of BCG (an inexpensive generic vaccine used globally to prevent tuberculosis) to treat fibromyalgia in a partnership with Massachusetts General Hospital. To find out more about eligibility visit www.fmtest.com.
About EpicGenetics
EpicGenetics, Inc. is a privately held biomedical company based in Los Angeles, California that develops and manufactures an approved fibromyalgia test that tracks the immune defects of this disease, the FM/a Test. EpicGenetics is dedicated to improving the diagnosis and treatment of fibromyalgia and by investing in and developing further comprehensive clinical studies at leading medical research centers through unrestricted donations. More information is available at www.fmtest.com.
