Atherosclerosis is the underlying cause of most diseases of the heart and blood vessels -- collectively referred to as cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cardiovascular disease accounted for nearly 1 in every 3 deaths in 2010.
The Epstein-Barr virus, also called EBV, is an extremely common virus that infects most people at one time or another during their lifetimes. Epstein-Barr virus infection generally causes a minor cold-like or flu-like illness, but, in some cases, there may be no symptoms of infection.In adolescents and young adults, the Epstein-Barr virus can cause mononucleosis, which is a more serious illness.pstein-Barr virus is very contagious and spreads from person to person through intimate contact with the saliva of a person who has the Epstein-Barr virus. As many as 95% of all adults have had an Epstein-Barr virus infection at some point in their lives, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In adolescents and adults, it causes an illness known as infectious mononucleosis between 35 and 50 percent of the time. The virus is spread through saliva or upper respiratory secretions and cannot be spread through contact with the blood. The Epstein-Barr virus test is a blood test used to identify an EBV infection.The test detects the presence of antibodies, which are proteins that your bodyâs immune system releases in response to a harmful substance, called an antigen. Specifically, the EBV test is used to detect antibodies to EBV antigens.he Epstein-Barr virus test is a blood test used to identify an EBV infection.