Laboratory parameters 1st order
- Antibody detection by serologic methods such as ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) – antigen detection (IgG, IgM, and IgA Elisa).
- Anti-VZV IgG (in unvaccinated childbearing women with unclear or negative varicella history).
- KBR
Laboratory parameters 2nd order
- Direct virus detection using PCR (polymerase chain reaction) from vesicle contents, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or amniotic fluid.
Serological parameters in varicella infection
Overview of possible constellations of laboratory diagnostic results and their evaluation:
| VZV serology | VZV PCR | Infection status | ||||
| VZV IgG (ELISA, CLIA, CMIA). | VZV IgG (FAMA) | VZV IgM* (ELISA) | VZV IgA (ELISA) | IgG avidity | ||
| negative | negative | negative | negative | – | negative | receptive |
| negative | negative | negative | negative | – | positive | acute (primary) infection |
| negative | negative | positive | negative | – | positive | acute (primary) infection |
| positive | positive | positive | negative / positive | low | positive | acute (primary) infection |
| positive | positive | negative | negative / positive | high | positive | Reactivation |
| positive | positive | positive | negative / positive | high | positive | Reactivation |
| positive | positive | positive | negative / positive | high | negative | past infection/latency |
| positive | positive | negative | negative / positive | high | negative | past infection/latency |
| negative | positive | negative | negative | high | negative | past infection/latency |
* A negative result for VZV IgM does not exclude acute infection.
Vaccination status-checking vaccine titers
| Vaccination | Laboratory parameters | Value | Rating |
| Varicella(chickenpox)/shingles (varicella zoster virus) | VCV IgG ELISA | <60 mIU/ml | No sufficient vaccination protection detectable → basic immunization recommended |
| 60-80 mIU/ml | Questionable vaccination protection → booster recommended | ||
| > 80 mIU/ml | Sufficient vaccination protection (→ control in 3 years). |
