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New urine test could diagnose autism in children: study

Nypost · · 490 words · By Rachel Sacks
Medical Innovation Autism Diagnostics Public Health Trends
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What to know about Medical Innovation

New urine test could diagnose autism in children: study See more of our coverage in your search results.

Claims checked 12
Techniques found 1
Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center83%
Right17%

6 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

New urine test could diagnose autism in children: study See more of our coverage in your search results.

Why it matters

Add The New York Post on GoogleA new autism diagnostic tool could enable earlier detection — and it’s as simple as going to the bathroom.

Common ground

The breakthrough screening developed by researchers at Arizona State University evaluates urine for certain compounds that may identify children with autism.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/05/27/health/new-urine-test-could-diagnose-autism-in-chi…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 70% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 12 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 6
help Insufficient Evidence 2
schedule Pending 2
verified Verified By Reference 1
info Single Source 1
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Claim 1: “Findings showed consistently elevated levels of certain metabolites in the children with autism, including ones that come from amino acids involved in key neurotransmitters.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results to specifically confirm the link to amino acids involved in key neurotransmitters, although general metabolite mentions exist.
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Claim 2: “the researchers... proposed a new subtype called ASD-associated with microbially-derived metabolites, or ASD-MDM, which encompasses about 90% of autism cases.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
verified
Claim 3: “Fifty-two of the children had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, while 47 didn’t have it.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of irrelevant search results (Study.com, AK-47, etc.) and does not contain the specific sample size numbers (52 and 47).
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The AK-47, officially known as the Avtomat Kalashnikova (Russian: Автомат Калашникова, lit. 'Kalashnikov automatic rifle'; also known as the Kalashnikov or just AK), is an assault rifle chambered for …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AK-47
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Boeing B-47 Stratojet (Boeing company designation Model 450) is a retired American long-range, six-engined, turbojet-powered strategic bomber that was designed to fly at high subsonic speed and at…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_B-47_Stratojet
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — John Sackville (by 1523 – between 1547 and 1552) was an English politician. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for East Grinstead.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Sackville_(by_1523_–_betw…
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
Claim 4: “A classification tool called the Microbially-Derived Metabolite (MDM) System assigned a score for the number of metabolites in a child’s urine that exceeded the typical range.”
SINGLE SOURCE
While the general concept of the urine test is corroborated, the specific name 'Microbially-Derived Metabolite (MDM) System' does not appear in the provided evidence snippets, which only mention 'gut biomarkers' or 'metabolite panel'.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Metabolomics is the scientific study of chemical processes involving metabolites, the small molecule substrates, intermediates, and products of cell metabolism. Specifically, metabolomics is the "syst…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metabolomics
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A microbiome (from Ancient Greek μικρός (mikrós) 'small' and βίος (bíos) 'life') is the community of microorganisms that can usually be found living together in any given habitat. It was defined mor…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microbiome
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A natural product is a natural compound or substance produced by a living organism—that is, found in nature. In the broadest sense, natural products include any substance produced by life. Natural pro…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_product
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 5: “one-third of the population also having an intellectual disability”
CORROBORATED
A specific research study cited in web results found that 37.9% (approximately one-third) of children with ASD were classified as having an intellectual disability.
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web search NEUTRAL — Jun 15, 2020 ... About 1 percent of the general population is thought to have Intellectual Disability , and about 10% of individuals with Intellectual Disability ...
https://www.research.chop.edu/car-autism-roadmap/intellectua…
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web search NEUTRAL — Mar 1, 2019 ... Current global estimates suggest the proportion of the population with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who have intellectual disability (ID) ...
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6397505/
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web search NEUTRAL — Mar 24, 2023 ... Among the 4,165 (66.7%) children with ASD with information on cognitive ability, 37.9% were classified as having an intellectual disability.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/ss/ss7202a1.htm
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Claim 6: “The breakthrough screening developed by researchers at Arizona State University evaluates urine for certain compounds that may identify children with autism.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results describe a new urine test developed to identify autism risk in children based on gut metabolites. While the provided Wikipedia snippets for ASU are general, the specific research is reported across multiple news-style web results.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Arizona State University (Arizona State or ASU) is a public research university in Tempe, Arizona, United States. Founded in 1885 as Territorial Normal School by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislatu…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona_State_University
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Havasupai Tribe v. the Arizona Board of Regents was a court case involving the American Indian Havasupai tribe and the Arizona State University Board of Regents. Between 1990 and 1994, John Martin and…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Havasupai_Tribe_v._the_Arizona…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The University of Arizona (Arizona, U of A, UArizona, or UA) is a public land-grant research university in Tucson, Arizona, United States. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Arizona
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 7: “Nearly all the kids with autism had at least one metabolite level that exceeded the highest observed in the group without the disorder.”
CORROBORATED
Two independent web sources explicitly state that nearly all children with autism had at least one metabolite level exceeding the highest observed in the control group.
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web search NEUTRAL — The differences were clear: Nearly all children with autism had at least one metabolite level exceeding the highest observed in the control group, with some levels measuring 100 to 1,000 times higher.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-urine-autism-children…
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web search NEUTRAL — Learn about NIMH research on autism spectrum disorder. Find resources on the signs and symptoms of autism and potential treatments and therapies.
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/autism-spectrum-disor…
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web search NEUTRAL — Studies found that levels of mental distress had risen by more than 50...
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0…
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Claim 8: “autism diagnoses skyrocketing 175% between 2011 and 2022”
CORROBORATED
Three independent web search results explicitly state that autism diagnoses increased by 175% between 2011 and 2022, citing Kaiser Permanente and CDC data.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a condition characterized by impairment in social communication and interaction, as well as a need or strong preference for predictability and …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Classic autism—also known as childhood autism, autistic disorder, or Kanner's syndrome—is a formerly diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorder first described by Leo Kanner in 1943. It is characterized by…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic_autism
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The history of autism encompasses various conceptual and treatment approaches, with the understanding of autism having been shaped by cultural, scientific, and societal factors. Pathologized or viewed…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_autism
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 9: “Throughout trials, the test showed 90% accuracy in identifying children with autism, without misidentifying any.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
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Claim 10: “The study, published Tuesday in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, used urine samples from children ages 2 to 11 to screen for 17 microbial metabolites”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm the study was published in Molecular Psychiatry and involved screening metabolites in children aged 2 to 11.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A chronotype is the behavioral manifestation of an underlying circadian rhythm's myriad physical processes. A person's chronotype is the propensity for the individual to sleep at a particular time dur…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronotype
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — There are several conditions comorbid to autism, which is a condition classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder that begins in early childhood, persists throughout adulthood, and is characterized by…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conditions_comorbid_to_autism
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Richard Eugene Frye is an American autism researcher. He was formerly an associate professor at Arizona Children's Hospital in Phoenix, and before that at the University of Arkansas for Medical Scienc…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_E._Frye
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 11: “Those with autism had about three elevated metabolites, with some levels measuring up to 1,000 times higher.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm that children with autism had about three elevated metabolites and some levels were up to 1,000 times higher.
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web search NEUTRAL — The differences were clear: Nearly all children with autism had at least one metabolite level exceeding the highest observed in the control group, with some levels measuring 100 to 1,000 times higher.
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260526/Urine-test-may-he…
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web search NEUTRAL — Those with autism had about three elevated metabolites, with some levels measuring up to 1,000 times higher.
https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/ch-new-urine-tes…
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web search NEUTRAL — A pilot study shows that a urine-based metabolite panel accurately distinguishes children with autism from typically developing peers. However, larger studies are needed to validate the approach.
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/could-urine-test-accura…
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Claim 12: “The findings are consistent with over 40 studies that showed higher gut microbiome metabolites in children with autism.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided in the search results to confirm the specific number of 'over 40 studies' showing higher gut microbiome metabolites.
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.