Epstein-Barr virus antibodies blood test in Chiswick

What the test measures

The Epstein-Barr virus is a very common herpes virus, and most adults in the UK have been infected at some point, often without knowing. When it causes symptoms, usually in teenagers and young adults, it is called glandular fever or infectious mononucleosis. The immune system makes different antibodies at different stages, so measuring them can help distinguish a recent infection from an old one.

Antibodies to the viral capsid antigen (VCA) appear early, with IgM usually indicating a recent infection, while antibodies to the nuclear antigen (EBNA) tend to develop months later and persist. Your report shows which antibodies are present, and your practitioner explains what pattern they form.

The price includes your sample at our Chiswick clinic, analysis at the Randox accredited laboratory, a review of your result with an Omnia practitioner, and a GP feedback report on request.

Who it is for

• You have had a sore throat, fever and swollen neck glands with marked tiredness.
• You have felt exhausted for weeks after a viral illness and want to know whether glandular fever was the cause.
• You have been in close contact with someone recently diagnosed with glandular fever.
• Your blood count or liver results have shown changes that may be linked to a viral infection.
• Your GP or practitioner has asked to check your EBV status.

Understanding your result

A positive IgM with no EBNA antibodies usually suggests a recent infection, while EBNA and VCA IgG without IgM usually point to an infection in the past, which is the case for most adults. If no antibodies are found, you have probably not been infected. Some patterns are borderline and may need a repeat test a few weeks later.

A past EBV infection is very common and does not by itself explain long-term tiredness. Results are a prompt for discussion, not a diagnosis. If you have severe abdominal pain on the left side, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or yellowing of the skin, seek urgent medical care through NHS 111 or A&E.

Preparing for your test

No fasting is needed and you can take your usual medicines. If your symptoms began only a few days ago, antibodies may not yet be detectable, so we may suggest waiting a week or so before testing. Avoid contact sports if glandular fever is suspected, because of the risk to an enlarged spleen.

Ongoing fatigue often has more than one cause, so Tired All The Time checks iron, thyroid, vitamins and blood count, and a liver function test can show whether the virus has affected the liver. EBV antibodies are also part of Omnia Signature, and you can browse every blood test and price in Chiswick.

Questions

How much is an Epstein-Barr virus antibodies test in Chiswick?

The EBV antibodies test costs £99 at Omnia Lifestyle. That covers the blood sample at our Chiswick clinic, analysis at the accredited laboratory, a practitioner review of the antibody pattern, and a GP feedback report on request.

Can this test show glandular fever?

Yes, the antibody pattern can show whether an EBV infection is recent, which supports a diagnosis of glandular fever when read with your symptoms.

Most adults test positive, so what does that mean?

A positive IgG with EBNA antibodies usually shows a past infection that the immune system has controlled. It is a common, expected finding.

How soon after symptoms should I test?

Antibodies take time to form. Testing about one to two weeks after symptoms begin is often more informative than testing on the first day.