Skip to main content
PMC home page
Journal of Clinical Pathology logoLink to Journal of Clinical Pathology
. 1974 Aug;27(8):647–651. doi: 10.1136/jcp.27.8.647

Studies on the diagnostic value of an immunofluorescence test for EB virus-specific IgM

Joan M B Edwards 1,2, D A McSwiggan 1,2
PMCID: PMC475421  PMID: 4371096

Abstract

A modification of the test for EB virus/IgM introduced by Schmitz and Scherer (1972) is described. It is simple and gives reproducible results.

EB virus/IgM was demonstrated in all but one case of infectious mononucleosis and in students with minor illness shown to have acquired EB virus/IgG recently. Unlike the EB virus/IgG, the IgM disappears within a few months. Although the Paul-Bunnell-Davidsohn test is still the test of choice for the diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis, the EB virus/IgM test could be useful to establish a diagnosis of current or recent EB virus infection where the Paul-Bunnell-Davidsohn test was negative or equivocal.

Full text

PDF
649

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Banatvala J. E., Best J. M., Waller D. K. Epstein-Barr virus-specific IgM in infectious mononucleosis, Burkitt lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Lancet. 1972 Jun 3;1(7762):1205–1208. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(72)90925-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Edwards J. M. A test with brucella antigen and antisera for assessing the titre of fluorescein conjugates of anti-human-globulin. J Med Microbiol. 1969 Nov 4;2(4):555–561. doi: 10.1099/00222615-2-4-555. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Hampar B., Hsu K. C., Martos L. M., Walker J. L. Serologic evidence that a herpes-type virus is the etiologic agent of heterophile-positive infectious mononucleosis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1971 Jul;68(7):1407–1411. doi: 10.1073/pnas.68.7.1407. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Heimer G. V., Taylor C. E. Improved immunofluorescence obtained with a tungsten halogen lamp in a modified inverted microscope. J Clin Pathol. 1972 Jan;25(1):88–93. doi: 10.1136/jcp.25.1.88. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Heimer G. V., Taylor C. E. Improved mountant for immunofluorescence preparations. J Clin Pathol. 1974 Mar;27(3):254–256. doi: 10.1136/jcp.27.3.254. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Henle G., Henle W. Immunofluorescence in cells derived from Burkitt's lymphoma. J Bacteriol. 1966 Mar;91(3):1248–1256. doi: 10.1128/jb.91.3.1248-1256.1966. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Joncas J. H. Clinical significance of the EB herpesvirus infection in man. Prog Med Virol. 1972;14:200–240. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Niederman J. C., Evans A. S., Subrahmanyan L., McCollum R. W. Prevalence, incidence and persistence of EB virus antibody in young adults. N Engl J Med. 1970 Feb 12;282(7):361–365. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197002122820704. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Niederman J. C., McCollum R. W., Henle G., Henle W. Infectious mononucleosis. Clinical manifestations in relation to EB virus antibodies. JAMA. 1968 Jan 15;203(3):205–209. doi: 10.1001/jama.203.3.205. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Pereira M. S., Blake J. M., Macrae A. D. EB virus antibody at different ages. Br Med J. 1969 Nov 29;4(5682):526–527. doi: 10.1136/bmj.4.5682.526. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Rygaard J., Olsen W. Determination of characteristics of interference filters. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1971 Jun 21;177:430–433. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1971.tb35071.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Rygaard J., Olsen W. Interference filters for improved immunofluorescence microscopy. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand. 1969;76(1):146–148. doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1969.tb03243.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Schmitz H., Scherer M. IgM antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus in infectious mononucleosis. Arch Gesamte Virusforsch. 1972;37(4):332–339. doi: 10.1007/BF01241456. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Schmitz H., Volz D., Krainick-Riechert C., Scherer M. Acute Epstein-Barr virus infections in children. Med Microbiol Immunol. 1972;158(1):58–63. doi: 10.1007/BF02122009. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Starling K. A., Fernbach D. J. Infectious mononucleosis in the preschool child. JAMA. 1968 Feb 26;203(9):810–810. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Clinical Pathology are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES