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Gulf War Illnesses: Questions About the Presence of Squalene Antibodies in Veterans Can Be Resolved

NSIAD-99-5 Published: Mar 29, 1999. Publicly Released: Mar 29, 1999.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO investigated the reports that the blood samples of some ill Gulf War-era veterans contained antibodies for squalene, a component of adjuvant formulations used in some experimental vaccines but not in any licensed vaccines, focusing on whether: (1) the Department of Defense (DOD) or the National Institutes of Health (NIH) performed or sponsored research using squalene; (2) DOD considered using adjuvant formulations in vaccines administered to Gulf War-era veterans; and (3) any research has detected the presence of squalene in ill Gulf War-era veterans.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should review the independent research that researchers report has revealed the presence of squalene antibodies in the blood of ill Gulf War-era veterans and conduct its own research designed to replicate or dispute these results.
Closed – Not Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

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Topics

Disease detection or diagnosisMedical researchResearch reportsTestingVeteransGulf war syndromeGulf war syndromeAIDSMalariaHuman subjects research