View Related Pages
Varicella-Zoster IgG Antibodies
Principle
Varicella (chickenpox) and zoster (shingles) represent different clinical manifestations of infection with the same agent, Varicella-zoster virus (VZV), a member of the Herpesviridae family.
- Varicella occurs most frequently in children and is characterized by a generalized vesicular exanthema, often accompanied by fever.
- Zoster usually occurs in adults or immunocompromised patients and consists of a painful, localized vesicular eruption with inflammation of associated dorsal root or cranial nerve sensory ganglia.
Varicella is the primary VZV infection, whereas zoster is a secondary infection caused by reactivation of latent VZV in sensory ganglia.
This test aids in determining prior exposure to VZV and in distinguishing acute or convalescent stages of infection. Laboratory confirmation of VZV infection is crucial in immunocompromised patients or children undergoing chemotherapy, as infection may be severe or fatal. Accurate diagnosis can guide the administration of antiviral therapy or other treatments.
Specimen Requirements
Specimen
Collection
Processing
Storage and Transport
Store/transport at 15–30°C for ≤8 hours; 2–8°C for ≤48 hours; freeze at ≤ –20°C if delayed. Avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles.
Unacceptable Specimens
Hemolyzed or unseparated specimens.
Method
ELISA
Normal Range
Clinical Interpretation of Immune Status
- Negative: < 15.0 EU/mL
- Equivocal: 15.0–19.9 EU/mL
- Positive (Presumed Immune): ≥ 20.0 EU/mL
Note: Results were obtained with the Diamedix Immunosimplicity Varicella-Zoster IgG EIA Test System. The magnitude above the cut-off is not indicative of antibody quantity. The reported IgG levels cannot be correlated to an end-point titer. The test reliably measures immunity due to previous infection but may be unstable for detecting post-vaccination immunity.
Turnaround Time
References
- Gershon AA, LaRussa P, Steinberg SP. Varicella-Zoster Virus. In: Murray PR, Baron EJ, Pfaller MA, Tenover FC, Yolken RH (eds). Manual of Clinical Microbiology, 6th ed. ASM Press; 1995:895–904.
- 2 Heath RB. Varicella-Zoster. In: Zuckerman AJ, Banatvala JE, Pattison JR (eds). Principle and Practice of Clinical Virology. John Wiley & Sons Ltd.; 1987:51–73.
- Arvin AM, Koropchak CM, Wittek AE. Immunologic Evidence of Reinfection with Varicella-Zoster Virus. J Infect Dis. 1983;148(2):200–205.