A comparison was made between the presence of cell-surface antigen, as determined by indirect membrane immunofluorescence, and the presence of Epstein-Barr (EB) virus antigen, as determined by direct immunofluorescence on acetone-fixed cells, in HR1-K, Raji, 64-10, and 64-10 INF cells. All sera tested with the EB virus-containing cell lines HR1-K and 64-10 INF were positive for membrane immunofluorescence, and a direct relationship existed between virus infection and membrane reactivity. Electron microscopic studies further revealed that only surface membranes of virus-producing cells in the HR1-K and 64-10 INF cultures were covered with a layer of antibody. The 64-10 cell line was negative in both tests. The Raji cell line was negative when tested for virus; however, 5 of 18 sera from patients with Burkitt's lymphoma did contain antibodies reacting with surface antigens in a small percentage of cells. It was observed also that fluorescence at the membrane can result from adsorption of EB virus particles onto the surface of uninfected cells.
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Dunkel et al. (1970) studied this question.