Other names: EBV VIRAL CAPSID AG (VCA) AB (IGM), Epstein-Barr Virus, Antibody To Viral Capsid Antigen, IgM
Optimal Result:
0 - 36 U/mL.
EBV VCA IgM detects IgM antibodies your immune system makes against the viral capsid antigen (VCA) of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV).
VCA IgM appears early in a new (primary) EBV infection, then typically becomes undetectable within 4–8 weeks (sometimes a bit longer).
It is used alongside other EBV markers—VCA IgG, EBNA-1 IgG, and sometimes Early Antigen (EA) IgG—to determine whether infection is current/recent, past, or if results are non-diagnostic and need follow-up.
You may also see this test named EBV Ab VCA, IgM.
EBV is very common and spreads via saliva (kissing, sharing cups/utensils).
Many infections in childhood cause few or no symptoms. In teens/young adults, initial infection can cause infectious mononucleosis (“mono”): fatigue, fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, sometimes enlarged spleen/liver.
After recovery, EBV becomes latent in the body. VCA IgM is not expected to persist in latency; long-term positivity is unusual and often reflects cross-reactivity, assay noise, or another cause—hence the need to interpret results in context.
Note: Exact units/cutoffs vary by lab. Always interpret using the reference range printed on your report and together with other EBV markers and symptoms.
Suggests no evidence of a current/recent EBV infection at the time of testing.
If you have strong mono-like symptoms, a negative VCA IgM can occur very early (before antibodies form) or if illness is due to another cause.
What to consider next
Order/confirm VCA IgG and EBNA-1 IgG:
VCA IgG (+) + EBNA-1 IgG (+) + VCA IgM (−) → past infection, not current.
All negative early on → retest in 1–2 weeks or consider EBV DNA (PCR) if diagnosis is urgent.
Evaluate other mono-like illnesses: CMV, acute HIV, hepatitis A/B/C, rubella, toxoplasmosis, and group A strep (strep throat needs antibiotics).
May reflect early seroconversion, minor assay variability, or non-specific binding.
What to do
Repeat testing in 1–2 weeks and add a full EBV panel (VCA IgG, EBNA-1 IgG, ± EA IgG) for stage clarification.
Consider PCR if the clinical picture is urgent or atypical.
Supports recent/acute EBV infection, especially if symptoms fit mono and VCA IgG is positive while EBNA-1 IgG is still negative (EBNA-1 IgG usually appears months after infection).
Persistently positive or isolated VCA IgM without supportive findings may be false-positive; confirm with repeat serology and/or PCR.
Context helps
VCA IgM (+) + VCA IgG (+) + EBNA-1 IgG (−) → often acute/recent EBV.
VCA IgM (−) + VCA IgG (+) + EBNA-1 IgG (+) → past infection, not active.
VCA IgM (+) alone → verify with repeat testing, add EBNA-1 IgG, EA IgG, and consider PCR.
| Pattern | VCA IgM | VCA IgG | EBNA-1 IgG | Usual interpretation* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early/acute primary infection | + | + | − | Recent/acute EBV |
| Past infection (remote) | − | + | + | Previous exposure, not active |
| Very early window | − | − | − | Pre-seroconversion — retest |
| Atypical/reactivation† | ± | + | + | Correlate with symptoms; consider EA IgG/PCR |
* Clinical context is essential.
† “Reactivation” is typically considered with compatible symptoms/immunosuppression and supportive labs (e.g., EA IgG ↑ and/or EBV DNA).
Mono-like symptoms with negative/indeterminate heterophile (“mono”) test—common in children, who may not make heterophile antibodies.
To help time infection (recent vs. past) alongside VCA IgG and EBNA-1 IgG.
In immunocompromised patients, where serology may be blunted, clinicians may rely more on PCR.
Symptomatic + VCA IgM positive → supports recent EBV; add EBNA-1 IgG (often negative early), consider CBC, liver enzymes, and clinical follow-up.
Symptomatic + VCA IgM negative → add VCA IgG/EBNA-1 IgG, retest in 1–2 weeks, and assess for other causes.
Equivocal → repeat soon; consider full panel or PCR if needed.
Isolated VCA IgM positive → confirm with repeat/alternate assay and context labs to rule out false positivity.
EBV = Epstein–Barr virus.
VCA = Viral Capsid Antigen.
IgM = Early antibody in new infections; short-lived.
IgG = Appears in acute phase, persists for life (evidence of past infection).
EBNA-1 IgG = Typically turns positive months after infection; indicates past infection.
Disclaimer: Educational information only. Always review your results with your healthcare provider, who can interpret them in the context of your symptoms, timing, and medical history.
A positive EBV VCA IgM result usually points to a recent or acute Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. These IgM antibodies show up early—often around the time symptoms begin—and usually fade within 4–8 weeks (sometimes a bit longer).
Because IgM alone doesn’t give the full picture, your provider will interpret it together with other EBV antibodies: VCA IgG, EBNA-1 IgG, and sometimes Early Antigen (EA) IgG or EBV PCR testing. The exact meaning depends on when the blood test was done compared to when your symptoms started.
Fatigue
Fever
Sore throat
Swollen lymph nodes
Sometimes: an enlarged spleen or mild liver test changes
Sometimes IgM results can last longer than expected, or appear positive when they’re not truly specific for EBV. This is why repeat testing or a full EBV antibody panel is often needed to confirm.
If you have symptoms: add VCA IgG and EBNA-1 IgG (and sometimes EA IgG or EBV PCR) to confirm whether the infection is recent or if there may be another explanation.
If IgM is positive by itself: repeat the test in 1–2 weeks and confirm with a full EBV panel or PCR.
Supportive care: rest, stay hydrated, and avoid contact sports if your spleen is enlarged. Always follow your clinician’s guidance on activity and follow-up.
| EBV VCA IgG | EBV VCA IgM | EBNA-1 IgG | Usual interpretation* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Negative | Negative | Negative | No prior exposure or very early infection → retest if symptomatic |
| Positive | Positive | Negative | Recent/acute infection (typical early primary infection pattern) |
| Positive | Negative | Positive | Past infection (not active now) |
| Positive | Negative | Negative | Indeterminate: very early infection before EBNA develops, or ~5–10% who never develop EBNA; retest or add EA IgG/PCR |
| Positive | Positive | Positive | Late primary infection or reactivation; correlate with symptoms; may need EA IgG or PCR |
| Negative | Positive | Negative/Positive | Possible false-positive IgM; repeat and confirm with full EBV panel or PCR |
* Always interpret results with the lab’s reference ranges, your symptoms, and your clinician’s judgment.
Import lab results from multiple providers, track changes over time, customize your reference ranges, and get clear explanations for each result. Everything is stored securely, exportable in one organized file, and shareable with your doctor—or anyone you choose.
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Please refer to this interpretation chart:
| EBV CAPSID IgG | EBV CAPSID IgM | EBNA IgG | Interpretation |
| Negative | Negative | Negative | No previous exposure |
| Positive | Positive | Negative | Recent infection |
| Positive | Negative | Positive | Past infection |
| Positive | Negative | Negative | See note* |
| Positive | Positive | Positive | Past infection |
Note:
*Results indicate infection with EBV at some time (VCA IgG positive). However, the time of the infection cannot be predicted (ie, recent or past) since antibodies to EBNA usually develop after primary infection (recent) or, alternatively, approximately 5% to 10% of patients with EBV never develop antibodies to EBNA (past).
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Add your results anytime with our easy entry form. It's quick, guided, and helps you stay organized — free for all members.
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After collecting lab results from different providers, you can download your entire history combined into a single file. Choose from PDF, Excel, or CSV formats to easily review, share, or get a second opinion—no more juggling multiple reports.
After collecting lab results from different providers, you can download your entire history combined into a single file.
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Our inclusive service handles the data entry for your lab reports. Just submit your information and we'll take care of the rest. Complete plan members receive one report entered for free, then $15 per report after that. Unlimited plan members receive ten report entries for free, then $15 per report after that.
Our inclusive service handles the data entry for your lab reports. Just submit your information and we'll take care of the rest.
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Whether you're working with a doctor, nutritionist, caregiver, or wellness coach, you can securely share your complete lab history by sending an invite link to anyone you trust. You have full control over who sees your information and for how long, ensuring your privacy and peace of mind at every step.
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As a PRO member and medical practitioner, Healthmatters.io has been an invaluable tool for tracking my clients' data. The layout is intuitive, making it easy to monitor trends and spot patterns over time. The ability to customize reports and charts helps me present information clearly to my clients, improving communication and outcomes. It's streamlined my workflow, saving me time and providing insights at a glance. Highly recommended for any practitioner looking for a comprehensive and user-friendly solution to track patient labs!
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Healthmatters is a personal health dashboard that helps you organize and understand your lab results. It collects and displays your medical test data from any lab in one secure, easy-to-use platform.
With a Healthmatters account, you can:
Professionals can also analyze client data more efficiently and save time managing lab reports.
Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 4000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:
You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.
If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.
While we work with many popular labs, we welcome reports from lots of other places too.
It's as simple as this: if you can get a test done, you can upload it to Healthmatters and we can interpret results from any lab out there. If laboratories can analyze it, we can interpret it.
If you're on the hunt for a specific biomarker, contact us and we'll add it to our database. Anything from blood, urine, saliva, or stool can be uploaded, understood, and tracked with your Healthmatters account.
The Complete Plan ($15/month) is perfect for individuals who want ongoing access to their health data. It includes unlimited lab imports, visual tracking, custom ranges, result explanations, full account exports, and secure sharing — all with a simple monthly subscription. You can cancel anytime and restart your plan whenever you're ready — your data will still be there waiting for you. You can also upgrade to the Unlimited Plan at any time, with the cost prorated based on what you've already paid.
The Unlimited Plan ($250 one-time) is also designed for individuals but offers lifetime access with no ongoing subscription. You'll get all the same features as the Complete Plan, plus a larger initial data entry allowance (10 reports), making it a great choice if you prefer a one-time payment and long-term use without monthly fees.
In short:
There are two ways to add your test reports to your Healthmatters account. One option is to input the data using the data entry forms. The other method is to utilize our "Data entry service."
Our data entry forms offer an easy, fast, and free way for you to input the reports yourself. Self-entry allows you to add an unlimited number of reports at no cost. We make the self-entry process user-friendly, providing dozens of templates that pre-populate the most popular laboratory panels and offering instant feedback on entered values.
For those who prefer assistance, we offer a "Data entry service" to help you input your data. Simply attach an image or file of your lab test results, and a qualified team member from our data entry team will add the results for you.
We support various file types, including PDFs, JPGs, or Excel. This service is particularly useful if you have many reports to upload or if you're too busy to handle the data entry yourself.
Our Data Entry Service is for when you don't want to manually type in your lab results yourself. You simply upload your report (PDF, image, or screenshot), and our trained team enters the information into your Healthmatters account for you — accurately and neatly organized, ready to view in graphs, tables, and timelines.
The $15 per report covers the time and care it takes for a real person to review your file, make sure each result is entered correctly, and double-check for accuracy. This ensures your health data is precise and easy to work with — without you having to spend the time doing it yourself.
Prefer to do it yourself? You can always use our free self-entry tool to add results manually — it just takes a bit more time and attention.
For users on the Complete monthly plan, the first report is entered free of charge, and each additional report incurs a fee of $15.
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Additionally, users on the Complete plan can upgrade to a yearly subscription from the account settings. The annual subscription includes a data entry service for five reports.
All professional accounts allow you to import and onboard an unlimited number of clients and their lab results. The distinction between professional plans lies solely in the data entry service.
The Pro Monthly Plus plan is priced at $75 per month and includes a data entry service for five reports each month. Additional reports can be self-entered at no extra cost or, if preferred, you can use our data entry service for an additional fee of $15 per report.
The Pro Monthly plan is priced at $45 per month and does not include a data entry service. Self-entry is free for an unlimited number of reports, and you can opt for the data entry service at a fee of $15 per report.
You also have the option to upgrade to higher monthly or to annual plans, which come with substantial discounts. All upgrades can be done directly from your account.
Simply log in and navigate to your account settings to cancel your subscription. Scroll down to locate the 'Cancel' button at the bottom of the page. Ensure you cancel at least one day before the renewal date to prevent any charges. Once cancellation is requested, the subscription remains active until the conclusion of the current billing cycle.
Our goal has been to make your Healthmatters account as intuitive as possible.
We've crafted multiple ways for you to navigate your data, whether you're glancing at a single report or delving into your historical test reports.
1. Graph View:Dive into a visual journey with our biomarker graphs, showcasing over 40 data points. Combining years of results unveils trends, empowering you to make informed decisions. Our visualization tools make it a breeze to compare and understand changes over time, even if your results are from different labs. A search function and filters simplify the exploration of extensive data, allowing you to focus on what needs attention.
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Yes, you can download your information anytime. We offer two easy ways to export your lab data:
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Yes, you can! We highly recommend activating Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for your account. To do so, please navigate to the "Profile and Security" section of your account, where you will find instructions for activating 2FA.
Yes, you can. When entering values for the biomarker, you will see an "Edit Range" button. Click this button, and you'll have the option to enter a custom range.
A personal account is all about keeping your own lab test results in check. It's just for you and your personal use.
The professional account is designed for health professionals who wish to track and organize their clients' laboratory results.
To learn more about Healthmatters Pro, please refer to the professional page.
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