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?
Heterophile antibody test
Complement mediated agglutination reaction
Homophile antibody test
Latex agglutination test
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.