Sorted By Test Name - Mayo Medical Laboratories

QEBV
82987
Not applicable
Clinical References: 1. Tachikawa N, Goto M, Hoshino Y, et al: Detection of Toxoplasma gondii,
Epstein-Barr virus, and JC virus DNAs in the cerebrospinal fluid in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
patients with focal central nervous system complications. Intern Med 1999;38(7):556-562 2. Antinori A,
Cingolani A, De Luca A, et al: Epstein-Barr virus in monitoring the response to therapy of acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome-related primary central nervous system lymphoma. Ann Neurol
1999;45(2):259-261 3. NIller HH, Wolf H, Minarovits J. Regulation and dysregulation of Epstein-Barr
virus latency: implications for the development of autoimmune disease. Autoimmunity. May
2008:41(4):298-328. 4. Studahl M, Hagberg L, Rekvdar E, Bergstrom T: Herpesvirus DNA detection in
cerebrospinal fluid: difference in clinical presentation between alph-, beta-, and gamma-herpes viruses.
Scand J Infect Dis 2000;32(3):237-248 5. Lau AH, Soltys K, Sindhi RK, et al:: Chronic high Epstein-Barr
viral load carriage in pediatric small bowel transplant recipients. Pediatr Transplant 2010
Jun;14(4):549-553
Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), Molecular Detection, Quantitative
PCR, Blood
Clinical Information: Primary infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a DNA-containing virus
classified among the family Herpesviridae, may cause infectious mononucleosis resulting in a benign
lymphoproliferative condition characterized by fever, fatigue, sore throat, and lymphadenopathy.
Infection occurs early in life, and by 10 years of age, 70% to 90% of children have been infected with this
virus. Usually, infection in children is asymptomatic or mild and may be associated with minor illnesses
such as upper respiratory tract infection, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis, and otitis media. The target
cell for EBV infection is the B lymphocyte. Immunocompromised patients, lacking antibody to EBV, are
at risk for acute EBV infection that may cause lymphoproliferative disorders in organ transplant recipients
(posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders [PTLD]) and AIDS-related lymphoma.(1) The incidence of
PTLD ranges from 1% for renal transplant recipients, to as high as 9% for heart/lung transplants, and 12%
for pancreas transplant patients. EBV DNA can be detected in the blood of patients with this viral
infection; however, quantitative evaluation of EBV DNA has been shown to correlate highly with the
subsequent (3-4 months) development of PTLD in susceptible patients.(2) Organ transplant recipients
seronegative (risk for primary EBV infection) for EBV (frequently children) who receive anti-lymphocyte
globulin for induction immunosuppression and OKT-3 treatment for early rejection are at highest risk for
developing PTLD compared to immunologically normal individuals with prior infection with this
virus.(4,5)
Useful For: A prospective and diagnostic marker for the development of posttransplant
lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD), especially in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-seronegative organ
transplant recipients who receive anti-lymphocyte globulin for induction immunosuppression and OKT-3
treatment for early rejection
Interpretation: Increasing copy levels of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA in serial specimens may
indicate possible posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD). Positive results are quantitated in
copies/mL. Reportable range is 2,000 to 200,000,000 copies/mL. Specimens with results