Specimen:

CSF

Collection Medium:

Minimum:

Preferred minimum:  0.5 mL
Absolute minimum:   0.3 mL

Rejection Criteria:

Heat-inactivated or contaminated specimens; specimens other than CSF

Analytic Time:

1 week

Reference Range:

0.90 ISR or less: Negative - No significant level of IgM antibody to 
varicella-zoster virus detected.

0.91-1.09 ISR: Equivocal - Repeat testing in 10-14 days may be helpful.

1.10 ISR or greater: Positive - Significant level of IgM antibody to 
varicella-zoster virus detected, which may indicate current or recent 
infection.  However, low levels of IgM antibodies may occasionally 
persist for more than 12 months post-infection.

Test
Limitations:

The detection of antibodies to varicella-zoster in CSF may indicate 
central nervous system infection.  However, consideration must be given 
to possible contamination by blood or transfer of serum antibodies 
across the blood-brain barrier.

Methodology:

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay

CPT Code:

86787