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The Principle Of The Glandular Fever Test

Decent Essays

1) What is the organism responsible for the occurrence of IM? What patient group is mainly affected?

The organism responsible for the occurrence of IM is the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). This virus belongs to the Herpes group and was first identified in cultured cells from biopsies of Burkitt’s Lymphoma.
The patient group that is mainly affected are 15 to 25 year olds. Infants and younger children have been affected, but the virus is very rarely found in middle aged or elderly people.

2) Explain the principle of the glandular fever test.

A patient sample is added to an absorbent pad on the test strip which contains bovine erythrocyte glycoprotein. The patient sample mobilises the blue microspheres that are contained in the test strip and they move up the strip. The test strip contains a region of immobilised bovine erythrocyte glycoprotein in the result window. If any IM heterophile antibodies are present in the specimen, then a blue line should appear in the result window. The Clearview IM test strips used in the laboratory provides an integrated control feature.

3) What is a heterophile antibody?

A heterophile antibody is an antibody produced in one species that reacts with the cells from another unrelated species. These antibodies, which are IgM in nature, are not specific for sheep red cells but also react with horse and ox, but NOT human, red cells.

4) What are atypical lymphocytes and how do they appear on: a) blood film, b) graphics plot?

a) On a blood

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