Indirect immunoenzyme assay to test IgG and/or IgM antibodies against varicella-zoster in human serum. 96 tests.
INTRODUCTION:
Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a herpesvirus which causes two distint clinical illnesses: varicella and zoster. Varicella is a febril disease with generalized vesicular rash; after recovery from varicella the virus remains latent for decades. When activation occurs the vesicular lesions are unilateral and localized to dermatomes and more frequent in immunocompromissed patients and in the elderly. Serological tests are used to determine susceptibility to VZV and for the diagnosis of the illness. The most frequently used tests are complement fixation, immunofluorescence and ELISA. IgM detection is useful for varicella diagnosis and occasionally in herpes zoster manifestations. Immunoassays based on glycoproteins have been reported as more sensitive to measure the immunological status of vaccinated population.
