EBV antibodies are commonly found in IgG and IgM. IgM antibody positivity can turn negative after treatment, while IgG antibodies are usually positive for a long time and do not turn negative, both of which do not heal on their own.
EBV is mainly transmitted through saliva, and more than 90% of adults have antibodies to the virus, which is closely related to the occurrence of nasopharyngeal cancer and childhood lymphoma. A positive IgG antibody, on the other hand, usually indicates that the EBV infection has been cured in the past, and the antibody may remain positive for a long time and will not turn negative.
Some patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma show positive EBV antibodies, but this cannot be used to diagnose nasopharyngeal carcinoma. If the test is only positive for the virus and there is no significant abnormality in the titer, there is no need to worry and regular review is sufficient.