question on EBV test

[Robbens]

Hi all

I am suspecting that I have ebv in a recent exposure 1month plus ago with fatigue, photophobia, dry mouth and dry cough that won't go away and I am now waiting for the test results.

The test that I did was EBV EA-IGA blood test.

Can I know the accuracy of this test and what does this test detects in the blood? Thanks very much!

[Robbens]

Hi,

today is the 1st day of the 7th week since last exposure to possible mono. I am currently living in SG where i guess "mono" is still quite "rare" so screening for mono is hard to find in clinics. I tested for mycoplasma on the 12th~13th day after possible exposure. It stated M hominis no growth. Is it accurate for the screening for mycoplasma? or should i wait for a month before screening for it. Thanks very much!

[mkh9]

It takes 4-7 weeks to get mono. So you are about at the end of the time you would get it. So the symptoms you already have would be from something else. Where is SG? I don't know the initials. Mycoplasma hominis would not cause these symptoms only M. pneumoniae. If they did a PCR test it is accurate if they did a serology test it isn't that accurate and would depend on if you developed antibodies. Also whether they also checked for M. pneumoniae.  It would be better to get the PCR test done. But it just checks for presence of the bacteria. The serology you would have to get the IgM done at the beginning of the illness and IgM in 2-4 weeks to see if there is a 4 fold rise in the level of antibody. If you wait a month you can look for M. pneumoniae (not hominis) IgG but that will just tell you if you have ever been exposed and not recently.  M. hominis in the lung or throat is not a pathogen and doesn't cause disease there. It can cause problems in the genital tract. So they tested for the wrong bacteria. Unless they were using hominis as a negative control. I doubt it though.

So in short get a PCR test for M. pneumoniae. Either a sputum specimen or throat swab. Best to get a sputum or deep cough specimen.

mkh9

[Robbens]

Hi,

SG is singapore. Ok i will try to get a test on M. pneumoniae it seems quite rare for this kind of test in my region. I hope that it is really this that is causing the symptoms. What im worried now is the EBV EA- igA test that falls in the equivocal region at 117.

Negative :  126.5

Does M pneumonia cause painless sore on the penile head? And

im 24 this year, is it 100% that i will get mononucleosis symptoms if im infected with ebv?

[mkh9]

Yes I understand. Well, your symptoms don't sound like mono. Also, if you don't have it by now I would say in about one week if you don't have it by then you won't get it. Or by the end of 7 weeks. If that has passed you should be okay.

No Mycoplasma pneumoniae causes respiratory tract symptoms. It has nothing to do with the penis or the genital tract. If you have a painless sore there could your exposure be related to getting an STD? If so what does the penis sore look like? Is it like a syphilis chancre? It is a single firm painless not itchy skin ulceration. If exposed and it looks like that you should get tested for it. If it is rough textured and not an ulcer it could be HPV or something else. So could also get tested for HPV by PCR. But they usually just test women for this and you usually have more than one.

Regarding your last question if you have previously been infected with EBV you won''t get mono. If it is a recent infection you could potentially fight it off. But since you are already near or past the time you would get the symptoms you probably won't get it.
mkh9

[Robbens]

Hi,

the two painless sores looks like fungi infection sore just 2 small red patch on the penile head. got tested for herpes and other stds, results are negative. though i haven't got tested for hepatitis.

I believe this exposure is my first exposure of ebv. Hopefully its not an ebv infection. Thanks for your reply and information!

[Robbens]

Hi,

i have gotten back my results for ebv igm and igg both were negative. can i ask if mycoplasma ab igm and igg would be able to detect mycoplasma pneumonia? and is it be possible that i have caught the cytomegalovirus? suddenly i have got tinnitus a few days ago