What result indicates a positive mono spot test?

A positive mono spot test is indicated by clumping or agglutination. This test is primarily used to detect heterophile antibodies associated with infectious mononucleosis, commonly caused by Epstein-Barr virus. When the test is positive, it reflects the presence of these antibodies which lead to the agglutination of sheep red blood cells that are used in the test. This characteristic reaction is what confirms the diagnosis of mononucleosis.

The presence of agglutination indicates that the patient's immune system has responded to the infection by producing these specific antibodies, thus providing critical information for diagnosing the condition. Other results, such as a lack of agglutination or weak reactions, do not confirm the presence of the antibodies and therefore do not indicate a positive test.