A 22 years old male presented with history of fever, sore throat and enlarged neck lymph nodes. He was ordered a Paul-Bunnell test with a suspicion of Infectious mononucleosis. What is the immunological basis behind the use of this test?
(A) Heterophile antibody test (B) Complement mediated agglutination reaction (C) Homophile antibody test (D) Latex agglutination test
(A) Answer- A. Heterophile antibody testEpstein-Bat virus (EBV) infection includes specific antibodies to EBV and various unrelated non-EBV heterophile antibodies. These heterophile antibodies reuct to antigens from animal RBCs. Sheep RBCs agglutinate in the presence of heterophile antibodies and are the basis for the Paul-Butrnell test.