EXPERT
Dr. Janis Atkinson, M.D.
Pathologist
Dr. Janis Atkinson is a pathologist practicing in Evanston, IL. Dr. Atkinson is a doctor who specializes in the study of bodily fluids and tissues. As a pathologist, Dr. Atkinson can help your primary care doctor make a diagnosis about your medical condition. Dr. Atkinson may perform a tissue biopsy to determine if a patient has cancer, practice genetic testing, and complete a number of laboratory examinations. Pathologists can also perform autopsies which can determine a persons cause of death and gain information about genetic progression of a disease.
39 years
Experience
Dr. Janis Atkinson, M.D.
- Evanston, IL
- Rush Med Coll of Rush Univ, Chicago Il
- Accepting new patients
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Are blood donations still being done during COVID-19?
Yes! In fact, during the pandemic, we need donations more than ever! There is a national blood shortage now, created as a side effect of so many community centers closing. Please READ MORE
Yes! In fact, during the pandemic, we need donations more than ever! There is a national blood shortage now, created as a side effect of so many community centers closing. Please give if you can and pass on the word!
Janis Atkinson
Janis Atkinson
Can a pathology report be wrong?
In short, yes, the test can be negative in the presence of a true mononucleosis infection. How can this happen? The mono spot test relies on detecting particular antibodies in READ MORE
In short, yes, the test can be negative in the presence of a true mononucleosis infection. How can this happen? The mono spot test relies on detecting particular antibodies in the blood of patients who are infected. For some patients who are are tested in the early or "acute" phase of the disease, the antibody levels can be so high in the blood that they overwhelm the test
and a "false negative" reading results. This is called the "prozone" effect and can occur with other tests involving antibodies as well. If the patient really does look like they mono - and a simple review of a peripheral blood film can provide additional evidence - then the test should be repeated a week or two later, during the "chronic" phase, and a true positive result will be found. Of course, it is always possible that the "negative" result is a "true negative" and there is a different condition causing the illness - like another virus. CMV can mimic mono, clinically.
and a "false negative" reading results. This is called the "prozone" effect and can occur with other tests involving antibodies as well. If the patient really does look like they mono - and a simple review of a peripheral blood film can provide additional evidence - then the test should be repeated a week or two later, during the "chronic" phase, and a true positive result will be found. Of course, it is always possible that the "negative" result is a "true negative" and there is a different condition causing the illness - like another virus. CMV can mimic mono, clinically.
