Why is EBV positive but Mono Negative?

[momwantenergy]

Im a 29 year old female who has been fighting severe fatigue, headaches, fogginess, lack of energy/no desire to do every day chores or anything for that matter, and left side soreness in my back (not front) for over 6 months.  I have had deep burning type leg pain since I was 6years old. In 7th grade I was diagnosed with Mono.  I have has all the symptoms I listed above on and off for years after being diagnosed with mono.  I always wrote it off it "life"  since this last episode I decided to try to get answers.  I asked to be tested for mono and EBV.  My mono test came back negative but my Epstein Barr Ab Early Antigen test came back 18.7 unit/mL My doctor called me with that result and said "you tested very very positive for EBV" I would like you to have an HIV test.  So I did without fear because I have been with my husband for years and to no surprise the test came back negative.  My Doctor was not in the office today to talk to further about things and will not be in over the weekend.  I was hoping someone here could shed some light on this for me because I can not find much about it online that's not all in medical terms.  TIA    

[fastback]

unfortunately for me and many others with ebv infection "tests" will come back "normal". However subclinical in some instances but not to the point of being "treatable".   What's truly tragic is there is not currently an effective treatment even though this was initially identified in the mid 80s. Still there is controversy whether or not EBV is the root cause of disorders such as CFS and Fibro. My main treatment over the years has been aerobic exercise-even when I didn't feel like it. More recently I have learned of natural supplements that could be taken to help alleviate symptoms and potentially relapses. I would google this and check it out.

[momwantenergy]

Thanks for your response fastback.  I am sorry that you have symptoms of this debilitating, depressing, isolating, frustrating illness.  As much as I hate this way of life for myself, I hate and resent it even more so for my family especially my two young very energetic sons.  The extreme fatigue and constant pain that plagues my life for months at a time (at times it has lasted over 6 month).  Before having the mono and EBV test I had CBC with Diff,  - Iron + Transferrin + % Saturation, Automated Diff,  Calcium Level Total,  Ionized Calcium Level, Magnesium Level, Phosphorus Level, PTH Related Peptide, and Parathyroid Hormone Intact Assay.  My doc ran the PTH and Calcium twice because the first time my PTH came back low while my Calcium was high.  but after repeat testing my levels were within normal range.  I requested the Mono (negative) and Epstein Barr (18.7 unit/mL ,  positive?) after she asked me to have an HIV test which is negative as well.  

[fastback]

good morning. I am sorry you have not been feeling well. I was diagnosed with EBV 30 years ago. I have had  symptoms on and off for your years. First off I am not a physician and this is just my personal opinion. From my research I have learned that EBV is both an acute (mono) and latent infection (stays in the body forever). It can reactivate like any herpes virus if the immune system is under stress.  Since you had symptoms on and off for years after being diagnosed with mono, I would suggest you request from your physician a viral load test (whole blood) to go along with your antibody testing and take it from there. good luck and I hope you start feeling better soon.