title: [Heterophile antibodies, lack of communication and the diagnostic dilemma].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Heterophilic antibodies represent a great danger to clinical care by producing false-positive values for certain markers. Too large confidence in specificity of laboratory markers together with lack of communication between clinicians and clinical chemists may lead to unnecessary interventional diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The prevalence of heterophilic antibodies is probably much higher than assumed up till now and several markers can be affected.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this review for clinicians, we explain formation of heterophilic antibodies, mechanisms of interference and present clinical data about affected markers and "side effects" from the literature. Furthermore we discuss possible alternatives and measures against this phenomenon. We consider broad awareness of this problem among clinicians the most important action to avoid further harm to patients.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik III, Universitätsklinikums, Rheinisch-Westfälischen Technischen Hochschule Aachen. Christoph.Dietrich@post.rwth-aachen.de
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Dietrich
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stiegler
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gressner
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matern
mesh_terms: D000910:Antibodies, Heterophile / Q000097:blood*; D003142:Communication; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D007400:Interprofessional Relations
chemical_list: D000910:Antibodies, Heterophile
vernacular_title: Heterophile Antikörper, fehlende Kommunikation und das diagnostische Dilemma.