Specimen Collection Manual and Test Catalog
EBV VIRAL CAPSID ANTIGEN IGM ANTIBODY
Geisinger Epic Procedure Code: LAB2231 Geisinger Epic ID: 14932Serum
0.5 mL serum; minimum 0.2 mL
Allow to clot. Centrifuge and submit 0.5 mL serum.
Refrigerated (preferred). Room temperature (stable 8 hours) or frozen specimen also acceptable.
Room temperature: 8 hours. 2-8°C: 96 hours. Frozen: 6 months.
Stability exceeded or gross hemolysis.
| Result | Interpretation |
| Negative | Absence of detectable VCA IgM antibodies. If exposure to Epstein-Barr virus is suspected despite a negative finding, a second sample should be collected and tested no less than one to two weeks later. |
| Equivocal | Suggest a second sample be collected and tested one to two weeks later. |
| Positive | Presence of detectable VCA IgM antibodies. Specific IgM antibodies are usually detected in patients with recent primary infection and may be found in patients with reactivated infections. Other EBV serology assays should be performed to confirm EBV-associated infectious mononucleosis. |
NOTE: This test is for the qualitative determination of IgM antibodies to EBV VCA.
The CPT codes provided by GML are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only.
Antibody detection to EBVCA IgM.
EB-IgM, EBV IGM, EBVCAM, Epstein Barr IgM Antibody, Epstein Barr Virus IgM Antibodies to Viral Capsid
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is responsible for infectious mononucleosis (IM) and has also been implicated in Burkitt's lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. EBV-VCA IgM antibodies typically appear within 4-6 weeks of infection with IM, peak concurrently with clinical onset of the disease, and decline within 2-3 months. A positive EBV-VCA IgM antibody in conjunction with clinical findings is indicative of an active or recent infection.
Hoi-Ying Elsie Yu, PhD, DABCC, FADLM