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Your blood sample is placed into a small tube or vial and usually analyzed within minutes to detect the presence of antibodies that indicate you have mono. A mono test requires no preparation but may produce mild side effects such as slight pain or bruising at the injection site, which usually resolves within a few minutes. At this time, there are no at-home mono test kits available to diagnose mono in yourself or a loved one in the privacy of your home. This test requires a blood draw that must be performed by a trained and experienced medical professional.
A negative result means your symptoms are probably caused by another disorder. There is very little risk to having a fingertip blood test or blood test from a vein. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly. According to Dr. Mira, a viral culture is the gold standard for diagnosing infectious mononucleosis. A false negative means your test shows you’re negative for mono, even though you have it.
Cool down a fever
If there's a need for additional confirmation, a monospot test may be done to check your blood for antibodies to the Epstein-Barr virus. But it may not detect the infection during the first week of the illness. A different antibody test requires a longer result time, but can detect the disease even within the first week of symptoms.
A mono test is relatively quick and takes no more than five minutes, regardless of whether blood is drawn from your fingertip or arm. Mono tests generally require no preparation and produce no downtime . Though a mono test takes only a few minutes, your appointment may last longer if you are required to wait your turn. Contact the mono testing provider beforehand to confirm how long the test and your appointment will last. Additional tests, such as an Epstein-Barr virus antibody test, may also be considered. Your doctor may perform or order a mono test if you are experiencing symptoms of mono.
How to Diagnose Mono
Some healthcare providers may visit your home to perform a mono test, but no test kits are available for self-testing at home. Mono tests are reliable and are shown to have an accuracy rate of between 95 and 100% . 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. In patients with symptoms consistent with infectious mononucleosis, the results of a mono test indicate whether heterophile antibodies are present. The results of a mono test are either positive or negative.
Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support , Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support , Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Tennessee in 2006. There is very little risk to having either type of blood collection. You may have swelling, tenderness, inflammation, bruising, or persistent bleeding at the injection site.
What does a positive result mean?
Treating secondary infections and other complications. A streptococcal infection sometimes goes along with the sore throat of mononucleosis. You may also develop a sinus infection or an infection of your tonsils . If so, you may need treatment with antibiotics for these accompanying bacterial infections. The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.
But plan on staying home from school and other activities until you're feeling better. The cost of a mono test is based on factors including test provider rates, geographical location, and whether or not this test is covered by your health insurance plan. Contact the mono test provider directly to learn more about applicable costs, or contact your health insurance provider to learn more about your benefits and coverage. For most people, the symptoms of mono last about two to four weeks, but they can last six months or longer in some cases.
The viruses that cause mono are commonly spread through bodily fluids, especially saliva. While less common, transmission may also occur through blood and semen during sexual contact, blood transfusions, and organ transplantations. Mono is rarely serious, but symptoms can linger for weeks or months. Mono is sometimes called the kissing disease because it is spread through saliva. You can also get mono if you share a drinking glass, food, or utensils with an a person who has mono.
A common cause of clogged ears with inability to pop them easily is due to eustachian tube dysfunction . Not uncommonly, a patient will present to an ENT clinic with only ONE tonsil being unusually large compared with the other side. You don't any special preparations for a fingertip blood test or blood test from a vein. If a trip to the hospital isn’t possible, you can test for mononucleosis at home.
Solv is one of the easiest ways to book a mono test, as it compiles lists of the highest-rated mono test providers along with their contact information. Visit our Home page and enter “mono test” into the “What” field, then select your location from the “Where” dropdown menu to the right. Next, select the mono test provider of your choice from the list provided, then use the contact information to book a same-day appointment. A viral offspring of the BA.2 COVID-19 subvariant, called BA.2.12.1, is gaining a foothold in the United States. The variant appears to be more transmissible than BA.2, but there is no evidence yet that it causes more severe disease.
The Mono test is usually ordered as a random test or upon suspicion of having been exposed to, or currently infected with, Mononucleosis. Mono tests can be taken in your home using at-home flue kits. Not only do at-home flue kits produce results similar to those of lab tests, but they also save time and money compared to visiting a doctor's office.
Look to see if you’re throat and tonsils are sore and swollen. Check your throat in the mirror to see if it looks particularly swollen and red. Mono can cause your throat and tonsils to become inflamed. If you’ve been dealing with a sore throat or notice that your throat is red and swollen, you might be dealing with mononucleosis. This form enables patients to ask specific questions about lab tests.
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