What is glandular fever?
Glandular fever (or infectious mononucleosis) is an illness caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, and is common in teenagers and young adults.
What is a monospot test?
The monospot test (IM Test) is a blood test for diagnosing glandular fever.
What are the symptoms of glandular fever?
Sore throat / swollen neck glands
Glandular fever is usually associated with a sore throat or tonsillitis, and swollen glands (lymphadenopathy) in the neck and elsewhere.
Rash
A skin rash may be present, and is more likely to occur if the patient is taking an antibiotic called amoxycillin.
Enlarged liver or spleen
The liver and spleen are sometimes mildly enlarged, and liver function tests may be mildly elevated.
Flu-like symptoms
Glandular fever also causes flu-like symptoms, including:
- High temperature
- Generalised aches of joints and muscles
- Headaches
- Tiredness
How is a monospot test performed?
The monospot test requires a few millilitres of blood from a vein.
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Monospot test results explained
A POSITIVE Monospot Test means that the individual has glandular fever.
A NEGATIVE Monospot in the second or third week of illness makes a diagnosis of glandular fever much less likely, but during the first week of illness the test may be falsely negative in about half of cases.
If necessary, an EBV serology can be performed to further test for specific antibodies against the Epstein-Barr virus.
The components of EBV serology include:
- EBV IgM (usually indicates recent infection)
- EBV IgG (usually indicates previous infection)
Related specialists
- General Practitioner (GP)
- Paediatrician
- General Physician
- Emergency Physician
- Otorhinolaryngologist (ENT Surgeon)
- Infectious Disease Physician
Related procedures
- Blood Test (venesection)
Related tests
- Full Blood Count (FBC)
- Differential White Cell Count (Diff)
- Liver Function Tests (LFT)
- Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) serology
Also known as
- Infectious mononucleosis
- IM test
Links
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This article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. If in doubt, HealthEngine recommends consulting with a registered health practitioner.
All content and media on the HealthEngine Blog is created and published online for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. Never disregard the advice of a medical professional, or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the nearest hospital emergency department, or call the emergency services immediately.
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