Includes: Epstein – Barr virus VCA Antibody (IgM), Epstein-Barr Virus VCA Antibody (IgG), Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigen (EBNA) Antibody (IgG)
Preferred Specimen(s): 1 mL serum
Minimum Volume: 0.6 mL
Transport Container: Plastic screw-cap vial
Transport Temperature: Room temperature
Specimen Stability:
- Room temperature 4 days
- Refrigerated 7 days
- Frozen 30 days
Reject Criteria:
· Gross hemolysis
· Gross lipemia
· Icteric
Methodology: Immunoassay (IA)
Reference Range(s)
Epstein – Barr virus VCA Antibody (IgM)
| ≤0.90 | Negative |
| 0.91-1.09 | Equivocal |
| ≥1.10 | Positive |
Epstein – Barr virus VCA Antibody (IgG)
| ≤0.90 | Negative |
| 0.91-1.09 | Equivocal |
| ≥1.10 | Positive |
Epstein – Barr virus Nuclear Antigen (EBNA) Antibody (IgG)
| ≤0.90 | Negative |
| 0.91-1.09 | Equivocal |
| ≥1.10 | Positive |
Clinical Significance: Primary infection by EBV causes infectious mononucleosis, usually a self-limiting disease in children and young adults. Infection with EBV can cause lymphoproliferative disorders including tumors. VCA-IgM is typically detectable at clinical presentation, and then declines to undetectable levels within a month in young children and within 3 months in other individuals. VCA-IgG are typically detectable at clinical presentation, and persist for life. EBNA IgG typically appears during convalescence (3-4 months after clinical presentation) and remains detectable for life.