False-Positive Serology in Mononucleosis

Abstract

MISCONCEPTIONS of infectious mononucleosis have arisen from uncritical repetitions of statements by earlier writers. The dictum of the frequent occurrence in mononucleosis of biological false-positive serologic reactions for syphilis (hereafter referred to as BFP) has been long accepted and unquestioned. For example, Harvey, in a recently published article,¹ stated that infectious mononucleosis was among the diseases which provoke a "high incidence" of BFP. The wide range of reported incidence is remarkable—one report stated that BFP's have been reported as occurring in "from 2 to more than 60 per cent of cases."² Recent articles have reported an incidence of 20%.^3,4 After observing many patients with mononucleosis without finding an instance of BFP, I undertook to ascertain its frequency in a series of 300 consecutive personally examined patients. Except for exclusion of outpatients, cases were unselected. This paper is a report of my results and conclusions. Method The incidence