Measurement of antibodies to varicella-zoster virus by using a latex agglutination test

J Clin Microbiol. 1991 Jul;29(7):1527-9. doi: 10.1128/jcm.29.7.1527-1529.1991.

Abstract

We evaluated a rapid, simple-to-perform assay for detecting antibodies to varicella-zoster virus by latex agglutination (LA); dilutions of test sera were added to latex particles coated with varicella-zoster virus antigen. We tested 878 serum specimens by LA and with fluorescent antibody to membrane antigen; of these, 227 were also tested by a commercially marketed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). LA was almost as sensitive as the fluorescent antibody to membrane antigen test and more sensitive than ELISA. No cross-reacting antibodies were detected by LA, and false-positive reactions were rare.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Chickenpox / immunology
  • Child
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Herpesvirus 3, Human / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Latex Fixation Tests / methods*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral