Heterophile
Encyclopedia
Heterophile is an alternate term to heterosexual
Heterosexuality
Heterosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the opposite sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, heterosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, physical or romantic attractions to persons of the opposite sex";...

 and once competed with it for currency, but only did so successfully in Scandinavia. It is a parallel concept to homophile
Homophile
The word homophile is an alternative to the word for homosexual or gay. The homophile movement also refers to the gay rights movement of the 1950s and '60s....

.

In Scandinavia and Finland, the word heterofil is a gender-neutral term, like "heterosexual" in Canada and the United States.

Medical

Heterophile antibodies are antibodies induced by external antigens (heterophile antigens) that cross-react with self-antigens. For example, antibodies against group A streptococcal cell walls can also react with (and thus damage) human heart tissues. These are considered heterophile antibodies.

In clinical diagnosis, the heterophile antibody test
Monospot test
The test is sensitive for heterophile antibodies produced by the human immune system in response to EBV infection.The monospot test, a form of the heterophile antibody test, is a rapid test for infectious mononucleosis due to Epstein–Barr virus . Commercially-available test kits are 70-92%...

 specifically refers to a rapid test for antibodies produced against the Epstein-Barr virus
Epstein-Barr virus
The Epstein–Barr virus , also called human herpesvirus 4 , is a virus of the herpes family and is one of the most common viruses in humans. It is best known as the cause of infectious mononucleosis...

 (EBV), the causative agent of infectious mononucleosis
Infectious mononucleosis
Infectious mononucleosis is an infectious, widespread viral...

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