Spurious rapid infections mononucleosis test results in non-infectious mononucleosis sera. The role of high-titer horse agglutinins.
The present report-describes serologic data from five individuals without infectious mononucleosis (IM) who had very high levels of horse red blood cell agglutinins (1:896-1:7168) that were unusual in that they were minimally absorbed by either guinea pig kidney or beef red blood cell suspensions. Agglutination of sheep red blood cells was negative, and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific serodiagnostic tests revealed evidence for long past primary infections. In one of the five cases, serologic findings suggested a more than usually active EBV carrier state, as evident from persistently high anti-VCA (IgG) levels of 1:1280 and the continual presence of anti-R at 1:40. Sera from all cases predictably interfered with several commercially available IM-specific rapid slide agglutination tests. The incidence of such findings was estimated to be no more than one per one thousand non-IM cases. In three patients adequately studied, the poorly absorbable horse agglutinins persisted in serum samples over periods of five to nine years. The significance of these findings is discussed.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G