Epstein Barr Virus - Test, Procedure & Cost

Epstein–Barr virus? 

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), a human γ-herpesvirus is widely dispersed (infecting as many as 95% of humans)1 and is implicated in cancers such as Burkitt’s lymphomas (BL) and nasopharyngeal carcinomas,2,3 as well as in several serious autoimmune disorders.4 Like all herpesviruses, EBV infection results in lifelong latent infections, interrupted by intermittent lytic reactivation.

EBV can infect epithelial cells however, epithelial cells, antibody-producing lymphocytes (white blood cells), target the virus. The establishment of latency upon EBV infection stimulates B cell immortalization in vitro and, in ways that are not yet fully understood, rewires the cell in such a manner as to increase the tumorigenic potential of EBV-infected cells.5,6 Latency proceeds primarily via three programs expressing various coding and non-coding (nc)RNAs .7 Furthermore, various EBV-related malignancies are associated with each type of latency.

Diagnosis of Epstein - Barr Virus Encoded RNA in-situ Hybridization

Abstract

Aims: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and a range of proliferative lymphoid conditions. In situ hybridization (ISH) looking for virus-encoded RNA (EBER) transcripts is performed simply using a commercially available probe. In a routine diagnostic setting, they aimed to examine the application of this test

Methods: In total, many cases in which EBV ISH was examined for diagnostic purposes. We looked at the indication for testing, the result, and its implication for the final diagnosis.

Results: Cases were classified into three categories: possible nasopharyngeal carcinoma; possible EBV-related lymphoma; and possible immunodeficiency-associated lymphoproliferative disorder. On Confirming the diagnosis Six of nine cases of possible nasopharyngeal carcinoma were EBV ISH positive (3/3 primary and 3/6 secondary), Three of 14 possible lymphoma cases were EBV ISH positive which, along with appropriate ancillary tests, assisted in making the diagnoses of Burkitt's lymphoma, lymphomatoid granulomatosis, and extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma of nasal type. All three immunodeficiency-associated cases were EBV ISH positive. Two cases were post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders, monomorphic type. The third case is HIV-related polymorphic lymphoproliferative disorder.

Conclusions: In our experience, EBV ISH is a rapid procedure to perform, straightforward, and gives unequivocal results. Used in the future highly useful ancillary diagnostic aid in the appropriate clinicopathological setting it can be a.