EPSTEIN-BARR

Epstein-Barr virus (Herpes virus 4) is one of the most widespread viruses in the world, so much so that approximately 95% of the adult population have antibodies against it.The most common syndrome caused by the Epstein-Barr virus is Infectious Mononucleosis (IMN), characterised by fever, sore throat, lymphadenitis and tiredness, which mainly affects children and adolescents.The illness is transmitted by interpersonal contact, through saliva, and this is why mononucleosis is also called the “kissing disease”.Epstein-Barr virus is also associated with some lymphoproliferative disorders and various tumours.Diagnosis if IMN has historically been done by searching for the so-called heterophile antibodies by means of the Paul Bunnel reaction.However, these antibodies cannot be detected in approximately 40% of children less than 5 years of age, therefore the test is not very sensitive for one of the population group at the highest risk of contracting the disease.Even though IMN itself is not a dangerous syndrome, the differential diagnosis becomes clinically very important so that other more serious infectious diseases with similar symptoms (toxoplasmosis, HIV infection, etc.) can be excluded.For this, specific tests are required that can detect antibodies produced against viral proteins expressed in different stages of the infection.

Method:

Immunoenzymatic method for the semiquantitative determination of IgM and IgG-class antibodies to Epstein-Barr VCA, qualitative determination of IgM and IgG-antibodies to Epstein-Barr EA and qualitative determination of IgG class antibodies to Epstein-Barr EBNA in human serum. The test is based on the ELISA principle (Enzyme Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay) which uses the reaction between the antibodies present in the tested sample and the immobilized antigen bound to solid phases. The immunoglobulins bind to the antigen through incubation with diluted human serum. The result is expressed as an INDEX (ratio between the OD value of the sample and that of the Cut-off) for qualitative tests and in International Units (AU/mL) for quantitative tests.