Laboratory Tests
- Zoster
- Serology
- Unequivocal confirmation of VZV infection if > 4-fold rise in antibody titer between convalescent- and acute-phase serum specimens
- Most frequently employed serologic tools for assessing host response are:
- Immunofluorescent detection of antibodies to VZV membrane antigens
- Fluorescent antibody to membrane antigen (FAMA) test
- Immune adherence hemagglutination
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
- FAMA test and ELISA appear to be the most sensitive.
- PCR
- PCR technology for detection of viral DNA in vesicular fluid
- Available in a limited number of diagnostic laboratories
- Tissue cultures
- Isolation of VZV in susceptible tissue-culture cell lines gives unequivocal confirmation of diagnosis.
- Postherpetic neuralgia
- No laboratory tests are indicated.
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