3030. PCR. Epstein-Barr virus (blood, quantification)

Quantitative EBV PCR in blood determines the concentration of viral DNA in plasma or whole blood. It is used for the diagnosis of acute infection, reactivation, and monitoring in patients with immunosuppression, lymphoproliferative disorders, and post-transplantation.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV, herpesvirus type 4) is a common pathogen that persists in the body for life after primary infection in a latent form. EBV is normally present in B lymphocytes, causing no clinical manifestations. However, under conditions of immunosuppression, stress, HIV infection, or hematologic malignancies, activation or reactivation of the virus may occur, leading to the development of symptoms and/or virasemia.

Quantitative blood PCR allows:

• to detect the presence of EBV DNA in the bloodstream;
• to determine the degree of viremia (viral load);
• to assess the risk of complications in immunocompromised patients;
• to monitor the effectiveness of therapy over time.

Clinical significance:

• high EBV DNA levels in the blood → indicate active infection, reactivation, or EBV-associated complications;
• used for dynamic monitoring of patients with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD), lymphomas, and immunodeficiencies;
• useful in cases of vague clinical presentation when serological tests provide limited information.

• For patients with acute fever and lymphadenopathy in whom EBV is suspected.
• For seronegative mononucleosis when IgM/IgG results are inconclusive.
• For patients with HIV, cancer, and post-transplantation patients – to detect viremia.
• For suspected EBV-associated lymphoma or chronic active EBV infection (CAEBV).
• For treatment monitoring and reactivation risk assessment.

• Venous blood

In order to exclude factors that may affect the test results, we recommend to follow the preparation rules: