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Can A Positive Epstein-Barr Test Cause A False Positive Pregnancy Test?

Posted on Tue, 27 Jun 2017

Question: Can a positive Epstein-Barr test result in a positive pregnancy test? Patient is 56 years old and not pregnant. Went to ER with severe headache, fever of 104, and bloating. Originally thought might be ovarian cancer, but tests were negative. Told her it was probably "EBV Disease".

Answered by Dr. Dr. Monika Dede (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
There is no relation between EBV test result and pregnancy test.

Detailed Answer:
Hello! I have been through your question.

Related your concern you should know that doesn't exist any relation between EBV test result and positive pregnancy test.
According my experience and based on your symptoms and your age (56 ) I think that most probably this could be just a viral situation and not "EBV diseases" .
Mononucleosis caused by EBV is most common among teens and young adults and it is unlikely, though not impossible, that you would have caught it at age 56.
Furthermore an EBV infection has symptoms like fever, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes, and not bloating .
If this situation last more than 3-4 days you should meet a ID specialist to exclude some complications.

I hope my answer helps you.
Feel free to ask me further.
Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Monika Dede (2 days later)

Thank you for your prompt reply, Dr. Dede. May I tell you a bit more about this case? I am not the patient. This woman is someone I have known since she was 16. (She is my daughter's age.) She now lives 750 miles away from me, in a small town. I hold a BS in Chemistry and an MS in Medical Technology. I have spent 42 years in hospital and private laboratories, primarily as a Clinical Chemist. I am now retired. This woman originally went to the ER in her small town with a fever of 104 degrees F, a severe headache, and bloating. She did not have swollen lymph nodes or pharyngitis. Blood tests were positive for pregnancy and EBV, and liver enzymes were very high. Ultrasound showed cysts in ovaries and solid abdominal mass "the size of a grapefruit". Liver "didn't look good". Made appointment with GYN clinic 3 weeks in the future. Finally saw doctor in clinic. Blood tests and ultrasound repeated. ALL tests came back negative, except for the heterophil. Told her she had "EBV Disease" and there was nothing to be done about that. She still has the fever and bloating. I fear that the diagnoses have been somehow mixed up, but which one is correct? As she lives in Arizona, I have suggested a visit to the Mayo Clinic in XXXXXXX which is 100 miles from where she lives. Am I correct? Something is very wrong somewhere. In my 42 years in the medical field, I have never heard of all of these tests becoming normal in 3 short weeks. I would appreciate your thoughts on this. Thank you in advance for any insight you can give me.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Monika Dede (14 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Please see the detailed answer below.

Detailed Answer:
Hello! I have been through your question.

Related your concern you should know that some medical conditions can cause a false positive pregnancy test such as ovarian cysts, ovarian cancer etc.

According the mono test (heterophile test) as well I think could be a false positive test in certain disease like hepatitis, infections, lymphoma etc . I say this because EBV disease is most common among teens and young adults and it is unlikely, though not impossible, that she would have caught it at age 56.
But in this case I suggest to do EBV serology IgM/IgG if this is an acute infection or past before.

When you say all tests came back negative you mean abdominal ultrasound was normal and liver enzyme as well?

I hope my answer helps you.
I wish your friends a quick recovery.
Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Monika Dede (5 hours later)

Thank you, Doctor. Yes, all tests are now negative, except for heterophile. Said she had mono when she was in college. Ultrasounds now show nothing, and liver enzymes are completely normal. Hcg is now negative. I had never seen such a "rapid recovery" in my 42 years in the laboratory, but I suppose miracles can happen. However I don't think it's likely in this case. I still wonder if her results have been confused with those of another patient. She has a very uncommon surname, though. Says she still has fever and bloating. Your thoughts, please.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Monika Dede (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
I think this could be a result confusion.

Detailed Answer:
Hello! Thank you for writing back.

Based on these data and especially a normal ultrasound after the previous findings, that too after 3 weeks, I think that it was most probably a result confusion.

Regarding her concern, please could you tell me since how long she has this situation?

I hope my answer helps you.
Regards.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee