title: Laboratory markers of immunity to varicella-zoster virus.
abstract: Clinical and subclinical reinfection with varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in healthy persons may occur despite detectable neutralizing antibodies in serum. Subclinical reinfection is not uncommon, but clinical reinfection is rare. Therefore, detectable anti-VZV antibody correlates with a subclinical course after reinfection rather than with immunity to reinfection. Cell-mediated immunity (CMI) to VZV appears to be a better indicator of immunity. Skin testing may be a simple and reliable test for CMI, but this must be further evaluated.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D000920:Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007231:Infant, Newborn
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral