An ox cell haemolysin test for the diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis

Abstract

It is suggested that routine tests for infectious mononucloosis in a large number of apparently unrelated syndromes would disclose a frequent common aetiology and perhaps modify the present conception of the course of the disease.A technique is suggested for a simple test involving tho demonstration of ox cell haemolysins which would make the testing of large numbers of sera practicable.The results in sixty cases of infectious mononucleosis and 200 controls are evaluated. The test does not reduce significantly the proportion of serologically negative cases but may confirm the diagnosis before the characteristic sheep cell agglutinins are demonstrable.The test is as sensitive and as specific as other serological tests for infectious mononucleosis and is very much easier to perform.