The uptake and use of the Monospot test in patients with tonsillitis
McCormack, R.; O'Shea, T.
Irish Medical Journal 102(7): 226-228
2009
ISSN/ISBN: 0332-3102 PMID: 19772007 Document Number: 628536
The objective of the study was to ascertain the uptake of the Monospot test in St. James's hospital in Dublin over the five years 2002-2006 and to determine the percentage of Monospot tests which had a positive result. Using the HIPE, Electronic Patient Record (EPR) and Patient Access System (PAS) databases in St. James's Hospital, a cohort of 593 patients with a diagnosis of tonsillitis or infectious mononucleosis was identified. Fourteen patients met the exclusion criteria as outlined below leaving a valid pool of 579 patients. It was ascertained whether each patient had a Monospot performed and if so, whether the result was positive or negative. In total, 249 (43.0%) of the included patients had a Monospot test. Of these, 197 (79.1%) were negative and 29 (11.6%) were positive. In 23 (9.2%) cases, no result was available. The uptake of the Monospot increased over the five years studied. A positive Monospot impacts on treatment and follow up. We therefore recommend that one is carried out in all patients presenting with acute tonsillitis.