Ordering Recommendation

Panel that combines varicella-zoster virus IgG and IgM antibodies is preferred (0050162).

New York DOH Approval Status

This test is New York state approved.

Specimen Required

Patient Preparation
Collect

Serum separator tube.

Specimen Preparation

Separate serum from cells ASAP or within 2 hours of collection. Transfer 1 mL serum to an ARUP Standard Transport Tube. (Min: 0.1 mL) Parallel testing is preferred and convalescent specimens must be received within 30 days from receipt of the acute specimens. Mark specimens plainly as "acute" or "convalescent."

Storage/Transport Temperature

Refrigerated.

Unacceptable Conditions

Bacterially contaminated, heat-inactivated, hemolyzed, icteric, lipemic, or turbid specimens.

Remarks
Stability

After separation from cells: Ambient: 48 hours; Refrigerated: 2 weeks; Frozen: 1 year (avoid repeated freeze/thaw cycles)

Methodology

Semi-Quantitative Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay

Performed

Mon-Fri

Reported

1-5 days

Reference Interval

0.90 ISR or less: Negative - No significant level of detectable varicella-zoster virus IgM antibody.
0.91-1.09 ISR: Equivocal - Repeat testing in 10-14 days may be helpful.
1.10 ISR or greater: Positive - Significant level of detectable varicella-zoster virus IgM antibody. Indicative of current or recent infection. However, low levels of IgM antibodies may occasionally persist for more than 12 months post-infection or immunization.

Interpretive Data



Compliance Category

FDA

Note

Hotline History

N/A

CPT Codes

86787

Components

Component Test Code* Component Chart Name LOINC
0099314 Varicella-Zoster Virus Antibody, IgM 5404-9
* 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

  • Herpes Zoster
  • Herpes Zoster IgM antibodies
  • Varicella Zoster Virus IgM
  • Varicella-Zoster Virus Antibody, IgM, Serum
  • VZV Antibody, IgM
  • VZV IgM
Varicella-Zoster Virus Antibody, IgM