Reporting

Reference Range:

Negative

Interpretive Data:

Equivocal result indicates that a second sample should be retested in no less than 1 to 2 weeks, if clinically indicated.

Flow Diagram:

The accurate distinction of a primary (acute) infection from seronegative status or past infection is a key concern of EBV diagnostics. The presence of other EBV serological markers should be determined to assess the immunological status to infection with EBV.  Based on the results of antibody tests, distinct serological profiles have been described in the medical literature.

Because some individuals are reported to exhibit long-lasting EBV VCA IgM antibodies, the convalescent pattern may represent a transient period late in the primary infection stage or may persist well into the past infection stage. Thus, it is considered an indeterminate pattern. For samples that exhibit indeterminate patterns, further diagnostic testing may be required. In all cases, diagnosis of infectious diseases should not be established on the basis of a single test result, but should be determined in conjunction with clinical findings and other diagnostic procedures as well as in association with medical judgment

Critical Decision: 

None