What is EBV nuclear antibody?
The EBV test is also known as “EBV antibodies.” It’s a blood test used to identify an EBV infection. The test detects the presence of antibodies. Antibodies are proteins that your body’s immune system releases in response to a harmful substance called an antigen.
What does a positive EBV nuclear IgG mean?
If someone has positive VCA-IgG and EA-D IgG tests, then it is highly likely that the person has a current or recent EBV infection.
What is Heterophile antibody in EBV?
The heterophile antibody is an immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody produced by infected B lymphocytes. It is not directed against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) or EBV-infected cells, but it is a result of the infection and the subsequent transformation of the B cell to a plasmacytoid state.
What does a positive heterophile antibody test mean?
A positive test means heterophile antibodies are present. These are most often a sign of mononucleosis. Your provider will also consider other blood test results and your symptoms.
What is the normal Epstein-Barr test results?
Optimal Result: 0 – 17.9 U/mL. EBV-VCA, IgG is an antibody (protein) that is produced by the body in an immune response to an Epstein-Barr virus antigen. EBV stands for Epstein-Barr virus. Epstein-Barr virus is a virus that typically causes a mild to moderate illness.
How do I read my EBV antibody profile?
Interpretation. The test has 3 components: viral capsid antigen (VCA) IgG, VCA IgM, and Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA). Presence of VCA IgM antibodies indicates recent primary infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The presence of VCA IgG antibodies indicates infection sometime in the past.
What can cause heterophile antibodies?
In eight automated tumour marker immunoassays, the prevalence of heterophile antibodies was 0.2–3.7%. Sources proposed for the induction of heterophile antibodies include exposure to mice and mouse products, immunisation, blood transfusion, autoimmune diseases, dialysis and maternal transfer.
What disease is associated with heterophile antibodies?
Detection of Heterophile Antibodies Heterophile antibody tests, such as themonospot test, are positive in 90% of cases of EBV-associated infectious mononucleosis in adolescents and adults during the second week of illness, but in only up to 50% of cases in children younger than 4 yr of age.
How is Heterophile antibody test done?
The test is usually performed using commercially available test kits which detect the reaction of heterophile antibodies in a person’s blood sample with horse or cow red blood cell antigens. These test kits work on the principles of latex agglutination or immunochromatography.
What is heterophile specificity?
Heterophile antigens are antigens of similar nature, if not identical, that are present in different tissues in different biological species, classes or kingdoms. Usually different species have different antigen sets but the hetereophile antigen is shared by different species.
Will I always test positive for EBV?
Since approximately 90% of us have EBV, testing positive isn’t significant unless you have EBV-like symptoms that can’t be explained by another cause. Your medical provider will sort that out with you. Click here to read what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says about EBV.
What are normal EBV numbers?