Heterophilic agglutination test

Infectious mononucleosis is mostly caused by EB virus, cytomegalovirus, and Toxoplasma infection. In the serum of patients with infectious mononucleosis, an antibody that can agglutinate red blood cells of a heterogeneous animal (such as sheep) is often a heterophilic antibody. Such agglutination is called heterophilic agglutination. Commonly used for serological diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis.