Common questions

What does varicella-zoster IgG positive mean?

What does varicella-zoster IgG positive mean?

A positive IgG ELISA result indicates that a person has antibodies to VZV either from past varicella disease or vaccination. This test cannot distinguish whether the antibodies were from a past episode of varicella or vaccination.

How long does varicella IgM stay positive What does it mean if IgG is positive?

After VZV infection, IgG and IgM antibodies appear 2 to 5 days after the rash and show the highest titers at 2 to 3 weeks. The VZV IgM antibody levels then rapidly decrease and cannot be detected at 1 year after infection, and the IgG antibody levels gradually decrease, showing positive test results for several years.

What is varicella-zoster positive?

The presence of detectable IgG-class antibodies indicates prior exposure to the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) through infection or immunization. Individuals testing positive are considered immune to varicella-zoster.

What does varicella zoster IgM mean?

A positive IgM result indicates a recent infection with varicella-zoster virus (VZV). A negative result does not rule out the diagnosis of VZV infection. The specimen may have been drawn before the appearance of detectable antibodies.

How do you read varicella zoster results?

The varicella zoster titer range is interpreted as follows:

  1. Non-Reactive: no detectable antibody (negative varicella titer)
  2. Indeterminate: the level of antibody detected is considered borderline reactive or equivocal.
  3. Reactive: The amount of obtained antibody is in the positive range (positive varicella titer)

Is varicella zoster a STD?

Because it has the word ‘herpes’ in the name, you might think that it’s related to cold sores or genital warts, but this is not the case. Although shingles belongs to the herpes family it is a different virus to the one that causes genital herpes or cold sores. This means that it’s not a sexually transmitted infection.

What does varicella IgM mean?

Interpretation. A positive IgM result indicates a recent infection with varicella-zoster virus (VZV). A negative result does not rule out the diagnosis of VZV infection. The specimen may have been drawn before the appearance of detectable antibodies.

What causes varicella-zoster virus?

Varicella (chickenpox) is an acute infectious disease. It is caused by varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which is a DNA virus that is a member of the herpesvirus group. After the primary infection, VZV stays in the body (in the sensory nerve ganglia) as a latent infection. Primary infection with VZV causes varicella.

Are shingles and HPV related?

A new study suggests that human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in women at or after menopause may represent an infection acquired years ago, and that HPV infections may exist below limits of detection after one to two years, similar to other viruses, such as varicella zoster, which can cause shingles.

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Ruth Doyle