THE ROLE OF ATYPICAL LYMPHOCYTES IN DIAGNOSIS OF EBV INFECTIOUS MONONUCLEOSIS

Infectious mononucleosis (IM) results from an initial Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection and usually shows an atypical lymphocytosis on a peripheral blood smear; however, some aspects—including the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, timing, and cellular identity of atypical lymphocytes versus their serologic or heterophile test results—are still being discussed in the medical community. This review will look at the morphology, immune phenotype, kinetic characteristics, diagnostic capability, and practical applications of atypical lymphocytes in IMM/EBV; it is based on prior studies of their immunophenotype (Pattengale et al., 1974; Callan et al., 1996), diagnostic performance (AAFP, StatPearls), and newly published literature regarding the automated analyzer index (high-fluorescence lymphocytes/HFLC