This is how long it takes to establish the diagnosis | Diagnosis of whistling glandular fever

This is how long it takes to establish the diagnosis

For the correct diagnosis, first of all the clinical symptoms are groundbreaking. The pathologies that the body obviously shows – for example, in the throat, lymph nodes or through the enlargement of the spleen – can be determined directly by the first examination by the doctor.The blood tests for liver values and the blood count get the results within a few hours or at the latest the next day, depending on the laboratory. The results of the antibody tests are usually only obtained after a few days or weeks.

There is also a rapid test procedure for infection with the Epstein Barr virus. This can be based on reactions to sheep erythrocytes or by a latex agglutination test. Unfortunately, the results of these tests are not reliable and in not rare cases show false positive or false negative results.

However, this depends on the age of the patient, the way the test is performed and the stage of the disease. Often the results are also falsified by infections with other pathogens.

All articles in this series:

  1. Diagnosis of whistling glandular fever
  2. This is how long it takes to establish the diagnosis