Hostname: page-component-cc8bf7c57-pd9xq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-11T17:18:00.618Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Evaluation of a Skin Test for Chicken Pox

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Alfred L. Florman*
Affiliation:
Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, and Microbiology, University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Edith I Umland
Affiliation:
Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, and Microbiology, University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Denise Ballou
Affiliation:
Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, and Microbiology, University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Alice H. Cushing
Affiliation:
Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, and Microbiology, University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Leroy C. McLaren
Affiliation:
Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, and Microbiology, University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico
T. John Gribble
Affiliation:
Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, and Microbiology, University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Marilyn H. Duncan
Affiliation:
Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, and Microbiology, University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico
*
Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM 87131

Abstract

Results with a VZV skin test as a marker of past infection were compared with histories of chicken pox and specific antibody detected by ELISA in 100 individuals—25 of whom were pediatric patients with malignant diseases. A negative or uncertain history was not reliable, neither were the skin test results among the oncology patients. However, among the normal individuals, the skin test when compared with the ELISA had a sensitivity of 85%, a specificity of 100%, and a positive predictive value of 100%.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1985

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Kamiya, H, Ihari, T, Hattori, A, et al: Diagnostic skin test reactions with varicella virus antigen and clinical application of the test. J Infect Dis 1977; 136:784788.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2.Steele, RW, Coleman, MA, Fiser, M, et al: Varicella zoster in hospital personnel: Skin test reactivity to monitor susceptibility. Pediatrics 1982; 70:604608.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3.LaRussa, P, Steinberg, S, Wallin, J, et al: Further evaluation of immunity to varicella by means of an intradermal skin test, abstract 393, ICAAC Meeting, October 1983, p 155.Google Scholar
4.Asano, Y, Shiraki, K, Takahashi, M, et al: Soluble skin test antigen for varicella zoster virus prepared from the fluid of infected cultures. J Infect Dis 1982; 143:684692.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5.Forghani, B, Schmidt, HJ, Dennis, J: Antibody assays for varicella-zoster virus: Comparison of enzyme immunoassay with neutralization, immune adherence hemagglutination and complement fixation. J Clin Microbiol 1978; 8:545552.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6.Gershon, A, Frey, HM, Steinberg, SP, et al: Determination of immunity to varicella using an enzyme-linked-immunosorbenl assay. Arch Virol 1981; 70:169172.Google Scholar
7.Preissner, CM, Steinberg, SP, Gershon, AA, et al: Evaluation of anticomplemeni immunofluorescent test for detection of antibody to varicella-zoster virus. J Clin Microbiol 1982; 16:373376.Google Scholar
8.CDC Guidelines for infection control in hospital personnel and Guidelines for isolation precautions in hospitals. Infect Control 1983; 4:320338.Google Scholar
9.Steele, RW, Vincent, MM, Berry, DH: Passive transfer of skin test reactivity to varicella-zoster antigen in childhood leukemia and prevention of disease with transfer factor. Current Chemotherapy and Infectious Disease Proceedings of the 11th ICC and the 19th 1CAAC, Washington, DC, American Society of Microbiology 1980, pp 14381439.Google Scholar
10.Burke, BL, Steele, RW, Beard, OW, et al: Immune responses to varicella-zoster in the aged. Arch Intern Med 1982; 142:291293.Google Scholar