Ordering Recommendation

Generally not recommended for the diagnosis of acute disease/encephalitis. May aid in diagnosing varicella-zoster virus vasculopathy.

New York DOH Approval Status

This test is not New York state approved. There are no New York state-approved laboratories available. Submit a Non-Permitted Laboratory Request Form (NPL) to the NYDOH prior to collection of specimen. If NPL is approved by NYDOH, and sample is received at ARUP, testing will be performed.

Specimen Required

Patient Preparation
Collect

CSF.

Specimen Preparation

Transfer 0.5 mL CSF to an ARUP Standard Transport Tube. (Min: 0.3 mL)

Storage/Transport Temperature

Refrigerated. Also acceptable: Frozen.

Unacceptable Conditions

Contaminated, heat-inactivated, hemolyzed, or xanthochromic specimens.

Remarks
Stability

Ambient: 8 hours; Refrigerated: 2 weeks; Frozen: 1 year

Methodology

Semi-Quantitative Chemiluminescent Immunoassay

Performed

Sun-Sat

Reported

Within 24 hours

Reference Interval

Effective February 18, 2020

134.9 IV or less Negative - No significant level of IgG antibody to varicella-zoster virus detected.
135.0-164.9 IV Equivocal - Repeat testing in 10-14 days may be helpful.
165.0 IV or greater Positive - IgG antibody to varicella-zoster virus detected, which may indicate a current or past varicella-zoster infection.

Interpretive Data

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.

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by ARUP Laboratories. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. This test was performed in a CLIA certified laboratory and is intended for clinical purposes.

Compliance Category

Modified FDA

Note

Hotline History

N/A

CPT Codes

86787

Components

Component Test Code* Component Chart Name LOINC
0054444 VZV Antibody IgG CSF 58755-0
* Component test codes cannot be used to order tests. The information provided here is not sufficient for interface builds; for a complete test mix, please click the sidebar link to access the Interface Map.

Aliases

  • CSF VZV
  • Herpes Zoster Antibodies CSF
  • Varicella-Zoster Antibody CSF
  • Varicella-zoster IgG CSF
  • VZ AB IgG CSF
  • VZ Ab, CSF
Varicella-Zoster Virus Antibody, IgG, CSF