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Separation of Immune Cell Subpopulations in Peripheral Blood Samples from Children with Infectious Mononucleosis

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Presumed infectious mononucleosis in a college basketball player

R A Greenslade1

  • 1Durango, CO, 81301, USA. smrghm@frontier.edu.

The Physician and Sportsmedicine
|January 21, 2010
PubMed

Insights

A false-positive Monospot test led to a college athlete being sidelined. Specific Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) serologic testing is crucial for accurate infectious mononucleosis diagnosis and return-to-play decisions.

Area of Science:

  • Sports Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

  • Acute infectious mononucleosis, often caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), frequently leads to athlete disqualification from competition.
  • Diagnostic challenges can arise from non-specific testing, potentially impacting clinical decisions.
  • Return-to-play protocols require accurate diagnosis to ensure athlete safety and prevent complications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the diagnostic limitations of the Monospot test in a collegiate athlete.
  • To emphasize the importance of specific Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) serologic titers for confirming infectious mononucleosis.
  • To underscore the need for precise diagnostic criteria for return-to-play decisions in athletes.

Main Methods:

  • Case report of a 20-year-old college basketball player.
  • Clinical, laboratory, and serologic evaluations were performed.
  • Comparison of Monospot test results with specific EBV antibody titers.

Main Results:

  • Initial diagnosis of acute infectious mononucleosis was suspected based on symptoms and a positive Monospot test.
  • Subsequent serologic evaluation revealed a latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and a false-positive Monospot test.
  • The athlete was found to have a current viral syndrome, not acute infectious mononucleosis.

Conclusions:

  • The Monospot test can yield false-positive results, necessitating further specific testing.
  • Accurate diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis requires confirmation with specific Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) serologic titers.
  • Reliable diagnostic methods are essential for determining athlete eligibility for return to play.

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