Question

Diagram the principle of the Mono test performed in lab

Answer 1

The immune system of an infected person from infectious mononucleosis produces antibodies to resist and fight this infection which is ultimately detected in the blood using this test.

The MONO Mononucleosis Test is a qualitative test to find the presence or concentration of a macromolecule i.e. IM heterophile antibodies in whole blood, serum or plasma. Guinea Pig Kidney Antigen and Preserved Hose Erythrocytes is being reacted with the blood specimen on a microscope slide. Clumping or agglutinating of the blood sample shows the presence of heterophil antibodies which is usually an indication of mono infection.

When atypical white blood cells or atypical lymphocytes are found to be present in an infected person, then there are fair chances of that the person is suffering from Mononucleosis as more than 80% of the mononucleosis infected patient produces heterophil antibodies in their blood and will most probably show symptoms like fever, sore throat, swollen glands, and fatigue. However, the presence of heterophil antibodies can also predict Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection in the patient.