How do you read Epstein-Barr virus test results?
Epstein-Barr can cause infectious mononucleosis, also known as ‘glandular fever’, ‘Mono’ and ‘Pfeiffer’s disease’. Infectious mononucleosis is caused when a person is first exposed to the virus during or after adolescence. Though once deemed “The Kissing Disease,” recent research has shown that transmission of Mono not only occurs from exchanging saliva, but also from contact with the airborne virus. EBV antibody tests turn up almost universally positive. If a patient has a positive mono test, an increased number of white blood cells, reactive lymphocytes, and symptoms of mononucleosis, then they will be diagnosed with infectious mononucleosis. If symptoms and reactive lymphocytes are present but the mono test is negative, then it may be too early to detect the heterophile antibodies or the affected patient may be in the small number of people who do not make heterophile antibodies. There are two main types of mononuclear leukocytes: monocytes and lymphocytes. The normal blood values f
AB = Antibody VCA: Viral Capsid Antigen EA: Early Antigen Igg: immunoglobulin G Igm: immunoglobulin M G and M are subclasses to the viral capsid antigen. IgM to the viral capsid antigen appears early in infection and disappears within 4 to 6 weeks. IgG to the viral capsid antigen appears in the acute phase, peaks at 2 to 4 weeks after onset, declines slightly, and then persists for life. IgG to the early antigen appears in the acute phase and generally falls to undetectable levels after 3 to 6 months. In many people, detection of antibody to the early antigen is a sign of active infection, but 20% of healthy people may have this antibody for years. Antibody to EBNA determined by the standard immunofluorescent test is not seen in the acute phase, but slowly appears 2 to 4 months after onset, and persists for life. This is not true for some EBNA enzyme immunoassays, which detect antibody within a few weeks of onset. Finally, even when EBV antibody tests, such as the early antigen test, s
