Infectious Mononucleosis Testing

Question 1

What causes infectious mononucleosis?

Answer 1

Espstein-Barr Virus (EBV)

Question 2

What does the screening test for infectious mononucleosis test for?

Answer 2

Heterophile antibodies

Question 3

What type of animal cells are used in screening tests for Infectious Mononucleosis?

Answer 3

Guinea pig/horse kidney cells
Beef erythrocytes
Sheep/Horse RBCs (indicator)

Question 4

What could cause a false positive in a screening test for infectious mononucleosis?

Answer 4

Leukemia, CM, Burkitt’s lymphoma, RA, viral hep

Question 5

What is a type of screening test for infectious mononucleosis?

Answer 5

Rapid differential slide test

Question 6

What is a confirmation test for infectious mononucleosis?

Answer 6

EBV specific antibody tests: indirect mmunofluorescent assay or ELISA

Question 7

What EBV antibodies indicate recent or current infection?

Answer 7

IgM Anti-VCA (appears a couple weeks after infection and decreases after 12 weeks)
Anti-EA (appears a couple weeks after infection and decreases after 12 weeks)

IgG AntiVCA without Anti-EBNA (appears a couple weeks after infection and lasts months to years)

Question 8

What EBV antibodies indicate past infection?

Answer 8

Anti-EBNA (appears around 8 weeks and is present for months to years)
IgG Anti-VCA without IgM Anti-VCA