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Test ID VZGM Varicella-Zoster Antibody, IgM and IgG, Serum

Reporting Name

Varicella-Zoster Ab, IgM and IgG, S

Useful For

Laboratory diagnosis of acute and recent infection with varicella-zoster virus (VZV)

 

Determination of immune status of individuals to the VZV

 

Documentation of previous infection with VZV in an individual without a previous record of immunization to VZV

Profile Information

Test ID Reporting Name Available Separately Always Performed
VZM Varicella-Zoster Ab, IgM, S Yes Yes
VZPG Varicella-Zoster Ab, IgG, S Yes Yes

Specimen Type

Serum


Specimen Required


Supplies: Sarstedt Aliquot Tube, 5 mL (T914)

Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial.


Specimen Minimum Volume

0.6 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 14 days
  Frozen  14 days

Reference Values

IgM

Negative

Reference values apply to all ages.

 

IgG

Vaccinated: positive (≥1.1 antibody index [AI])

Unvaccinated: negative (≤0.8 AI)

Reference values apply to all ages.

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Friday

CPT Code Information

86787 x2

Clinical Information

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV), a herpesvirus, causes 2 distinct exanthematous (rash-associated) diseases: chickenpox (varicella) and shingles (herpes zoster). Chickenpox is a highly contagious, though typically benign, disease, usually contracted during childhood. Chickenpox is characterized by a dermal vesiculopustular rash that develops in successive crops approximately 10 to 21 days following exposure.(1) Although primary infection with VZV results in immunity and protection from subsequent infection, VZV remains latent within sensory dorsal root ganglia and upon reactivation, manifests as herpes zoster or shingles. During reactivation, the virus migrates along neural pathways to the skin, producing a unilateral rash, usually limited to a single dermatome. Shingles is an extremely painful condition typically occurring in older nonimmune adults or those with waning immunity to VZV and in patients with impaired cellular immunity.(2)

 

Individuals at risk for severe complications following primary VZV infection include women who are pregnant, in whom the virus may spread through the placenta to the fetus causing congenital disease in the infant. Additionally, immunosuppressed patients are at risk for developing severe VZV-related complications, which include cutaneous disseminated disease and visceral organ involvement.(2,3)

 

Serologic screening for IgG-class antibodies to VZV will aid in identifying nonimmune individuals. The presence of IgM-class antibodies to VZV is suggestive of acute or recent infection however results should be correlated with clinical presentation.

Interpretation

A positive IgG result coupled with a positive IgM result suggests recent infection with varicella-zoster virus (VZV). This result should not be used alone to diagnose VZV infection and should be interpreted in the context of clinical presentation.

 

A positive IgG result coupled with a negative IgM result indicates previous vaccination to or infection with VZV. These individuals are considered to have protective immunity to reinfection.

 

A negative IgG result coupled with a negative IgM result indicates the absence of prior exposure to VZV and nonimmunity. However, a negative result does not rule-out VZV infection. The specimen may have been drawn before the appearance of detectable antibodies. Negative results in suspected early VZV infections should be followed by testing a new serum specimen in 2 to 3 weeks.

 

Equivocal results should be followed up with testing of a new serum specimen within 10 to 14 days.

Cautions

Results from cord blood, neonates, or immunocompromised individuals should be interpreted with caution.

 

Testing for IgM-class antibodies to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) should be limited to patients with a clinically compatible disease.

 

The performance characteristics with individuals vaccinated with the VZV (OKA strain) have not been established.

 

Up to one-third of individuals with primary herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections who have experienced prior VZV infection show a heterotypic antibody response to VZV antigen making a differential diagnosis between VZV and HSV difficult in the absence of clear-cut clinical findings.

 

Immunoglobulin G-class antibodies to VZV may be present in serum specimens from individuals who have received blood products within the past several months but have not been immunized or experienced past infection with this virus.

 

Serum specimens collected early during acute phase of infection or soon after vaccination may be negative for IgM- or IgG-class antibodies to this virus, respectively.

Clinical Reference

1. Yankowitz J, Grose C: Congenital infections. In: Storch GA, ed. Essentials of diagnostic virology. Churchill Livingstone; 2000:187-201

2. Gnann JW, Whitley RJ. Herpes Zoster. N Engl J Med. 2002;347(5):340-346

3. Cvjetkovic D, Jovanovic J, Hrnjakovic-Cvjetkovic I, Brkic S, Bogdanovic M. Reaktivacija herpes zoster infekcije varicela-zoster virusom [Reactivation of herpes zoster infection by varicella-zoster virus]. Med Pregl. 1999;52(3-5):125-128

4. Whitely RJ: Chickenpox and Herpes Zoster (Varicella-Zoster virus). In Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Elsevier; 2020: 1849-1856

Method Description

Immunoglobulin M:

The presence or absence of IgM-class antibody to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is determined by an indirect immunofluorescence assay. Serum is incubated with VZV antigen that is adhered to a glass microscope slide. Antibodies, if present, will bind to the antigen forming stable antigen-antibody complexes. If no antibodies are present, the complexes will not be formed, and the serum components will be washed away. Fluorescein-labeled antihuman-IgM antibody is added to the reaction side and binds to IgM antibodies if present. This results in a positive reaction of bright apple-green fluorescence when viewed with a fluorescence microscope.(Package insert: Bion Varicella Zoster Antigen Substrate Slide. Bion Enterprises; 11/2024)

 

Immunoglobulin G:

The BioPlex 2200 VZV IgG assay uses multiplex flow immunoassay technology. Briefly, serum samples are mixed and incubated at 37° C with sample diluent and dyed beads coated with VZV antigen. After a wash cycle, antihuman IgG antibody conjugated to phycoerythrin (PE) is added to the mixture and incubated at 37° C. Excess conjugate is removed in another wash cycle, and the beads are resuspended in wash buffer. The bead mixture then passes through a detector that identifies the bead based on dye fluorescence and determines the amount of antibody captured by the antigen based on the fluorescence of the attached PE. Raw data is calculated in relative fluorescence intensity.

 

Three additional dyed beads, an internal standard bead, a serum verification bead, and a reagent blank bead are present in each reaction mixture to verify detector response, the addition of serum to the reaction vessel and the absence of significant nonspecific binding in serum.(Package insert: BioPlex 2200 System MMRV IgG. Bio-Rad Laboratories; 02/2019)

Report Available

Same day/1 to 3 days

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis Reject
Gross lipemia Reject
Gross icterus Reject
Heat-inactivated specimen Reject

NY State Approved

Yes

Method Name

VZM: Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA)

VZPG: Multiplex Flow Immunoassay (MFI)

Test Classification

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send Infectious Disease Serology Test Request (T916) with the specimen.