Starting Thursday, November 2nd, 2023, nationwide unavailability of reagents used for in-house acute EBV antibody testing will require a temporary switch to an alternative assay (Monospot).

The following are impacts of this issue:

• EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS ACUTE PANEL [LAB7810] is being temporarily discontinued.

• The temporary preferred test for suspected acute infection if rapid results are needed is HETEROPHILE ANTIBODY (MONOSPOT) [LAB327]. This test requires a Lavender Top Tube (EDTA) and will be performed at both the main hospital and IRL clinical laboratories.

• If a false-negative Monospot is suspected (i.e., young children, early in illness course) or if rapid results are not essential, order EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS, FULL AB PANEL (MAILOUT) [LAB9384]. The required specimen container is a BD Gold SST Vacutainer and results will be available in 2 – 4 days.

Our vendor has not yet supplied a target date for return of testing supplies. Additional details will follow in a later broadcast.

Questions should be directed to Anna Merrill, PhD (678-8400, anna-merrill@uiowa.edu) or Matthew Krasowski, MD, PhD (384-9380, matthew-krasowski@uiowa.edu).