Latest MMR study dismisses link to autism

In what is claimed to be the most comprehensive study on the subject, researchers from Guy's Hospital, the Health Protection Agency, and Manchester University studied antibody levels in children.

They looked for antibodies and the measles virus in blood samples, and then compared the results for autistic and non-autistic children. They found no difference between the results.

Dr David Brown, from the Health Protection Agency, said: "The study found no evidence linking MMR to autistic spectrum disorder and the paper adds to the overwhelming body of evidence from around the world supporting the use of MMR."

The use of MMR has provoked controversy since Dr Andrew Wakefield claimed there was a link between the vaccine and autism, in an article published 10 years ago.