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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Politics
Jessica Glenza

US study shows difficulty of finding lab test for long Covid: ‘The hunt will go on’

gloved hand holds a vial of blood
Participants received a panel of 25 standard blood and urine tests in the study beginning either six months after infection or when they enrolled. Photograph: Simon Dawson/PA

A new study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) highlights the difficulty of finding a lab test for long Covid – a novel condition that encompasses dozens of symptoms and is currently considered a “diagnosis of exclusion”.

Long Covid’s most common symptoms include brain fog, fatigue and heart palpitations, which can change over time and be disabling when severe. Approximately one in 20 adults reported persistent symptoms of Covid, as of June 2024.

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