A 17-year-old female with suspected mononucleosis tested negative for heterophile antibody using the slide agglutination monotest.Her serum was sent to a reference laboratory,and the following results were obtained: negative for IgM anti-VCA,positive for antibody to EA-D.What do these results suggest?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A negative result for heterophile antibody does not completely rule out mononucleosis, as some patients may not produce this antibody. The presence of antibody to EA-D indicates an early stage of infection, as this antibody is typically present during the acute phase of the disease. Therefore, the most likely explanation for the patient's symptoms is that she is in the early stages of mononucleosis, despite the negative result on the heterophile antibody test.

A 17-Year-Old Female with Suspected Mononucleosis Tested Negative for Heterophile