Are Heterophile Antibodies Igg or Igm?

Heterophile antibodies are IgM antibodies with affinity for sheep and horse red blood cells. They appear during the first week of infectious mononucleosis symptoms, 3–4 weeks after infection and return to undetectable levels 3 to 6 months after infection.

Are heterophile antibodies IgM?

Heterophile antibodies are IgM antibodies, which agglutinate erythrocytes from different species including bovine, camel, horse, goat, and sheep.

What does heterophile antibody detected mean?

A positive test indicates the presence of heterophile antibodies. This result, alongside a patient's symptoms, are used to make a diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis. A negative test may indicate that a patient does not have infectious mononucleosis.