heterophile (redirected from Antigens, heterophile)

heterophile.

See heterophil.

---

heterophil [het´er-o-fil″]

1. a finely granular polymorphonuclear leukocyte represented by neutrophils in human, but characterized in other mammals by granules that have variable sizes and staining characteristics.

2. heterophilic (def. 1).

heterophil antibody a characteristic antibody found with infectious mononucleosis, demonstrated in 90 to 95 per cent of adolescents and adults and 50 per cent of children with the disease. It declines in titer after acute illness has resolved but may be detectable for up to 9 months after disease onset.