title: A modified immunofluorescence test for Epstein-Barr virus-specific IgM antibody.
abstract: The fluorescent antibody (FA) test for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific IgM antibody was improved by the use of sodium butyrate to induce a higher level of EBV antigen expression in P3HR-1 slide preparations and by removal of rheumatoid factor (RF) and IgG antibodies from test sera by means of adsorption with suspensions of Sepharose-IgG and Streptococcus pyogenes strain AR1. This method was compared with the Paul-Bunnell test (PB) on 1106 sera submitted to a routine virus diagnostic laboratory for infectious mononucleosis serology and 96.4% of sera showed concordant results. Thus the EBV-IgM-FA method was suitable for routine diagnostic use. However, it proved helpful to test EBV-IgM positive sera by PB to assist in the detection of cross-reacting IgM antibodies sometimes present.
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000910:Antibodies, Heterophile / Q000032:analysis; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis*; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D000910:Antibodies, Heterophile; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007075:Immunoglobulin M