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Varicella-Zoster Antibody, IgG
Test CodeVZG
Alias/See Also
Epic: LAB162
Chickenpox
Herpes Zoster Antibodies
Shingles
Varicella-Zoster Antibody Screen, Qualitative, Serum
Varicella-Zoster Immune Status, Serum
VZ Ab, IgG
VZV
Varicella-Zoster IgG, Serum
Chickenpox
Herpes Zoster Antibodies
Shingles
Varicella-Zoster Antibody Screen, Qualitative, Serum
Varicella-Zoster Immune Status, Serum
VZ Ab, IgG
VZV
Varicella-Zoster IgG, Serum
Preferred Specimen
Specimen Type: Serum
Collection Container: Serum gel
Specimen Volume: 3 mL
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Other Acceptable Specimens
Collection Container: Red top
Instructions
Centrifuge and separate cells after clot formation and within 4 hours of collection.
Transport Container
Plastic vial
Specimen Stability
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: >7 days
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Unlabeled, mislabeled, wrong tube type, QNS, severely hemolyzed samples and any sample from which the lipid layer has not been removed.
Methodology
Chemiluminescent Immunoassay (CLIA)
Setup Schedule
Monday - Friday
Report Available
1 day
Reference Range
See laboratory report
Clinical Significance
Varicella (chicken pox) is an acute, highly contagious viral disease with worldwide distribution, seasonal prevalence in winter and spring, characterized by generalized vesicular exanthema often accompanied by fever. While mostly a mild disorder in childhood, varicella tends to be more severe in adults and it may be fatal, especially in neonates and in immunocompromised subjects. Varicella-zoster virus (VZV), a Herpesviridae, is the causative agent of the disease that shows little genetic variation (only one serotype is known). Following primary infection, the virus remains latent in neural ganglia, and upon subsequent reactivation VZV may cause zoster (shingles), a disease mainly affecting the elderly and immunocompromised persons, that consists in painful, circumscribed eruption of vesicular lesions with
inflammation of associated dorsal root or cranial nerve sensory ganglia. IgM antibodies to varicellazoster virus may be detected during primary and reactivated infection.
Evaluation of specific immune status for VZV may guide management of immunosuppressed patients and administration of antiviral agents. Varicella infection occurring in susceptible pregnant women can lead to severe, and even fatal, disease of the newborns. Infection occurring in the first four months of pregnancy can lead to child deformity, while infection at the time of delivery may cause life-threatening infection in newborns. Although individual cases may be prevented or modified by VZV immunoglobulin administration or treated with antiviral drugs, varicella can be controlled only by vaccination.
inflammation of associated dorsal root or cranial nerve sensory ganglia. IgM antibodies to varicellazoster virus may be detected during primary and reactivated infection.
Evaluation of specific immune status for VZV may guide management of immunosuppressed patients and administration of antiviral agents. Varicella infection occurring in susceptible pregnant women can lead to severe, and even fatal, disease of the newborns. Infection occurring in the first four months of pregnancy can lead to child deformity, while infection at the time of delivery may cause life-threatening infection in newborns. Although individual cases may be prevented or modified by VZV immunoglobulin administration or treated with antiviral drugs, varicella can be controlled only by vaccination.
Performing Laboratory
Inova Laboratories
2832 Juniper Street
Fairfax, VA 22031
Last Updated: April 17, 2023
Last Review: N. Wolford, April 17, 2023