Comparison of two methods for detecting varicella-zoster virus antibody with varicella-zoster virus cell-mediated immunity.
We evaluated an enzyme-linked immunoassay (EIA; BioWhittaker) and a latex agglutination (LA; Becton Dickinson) for varicella-zoster virus (VZV) antibody determination, using cell-mediated immunity (CMI) as a "gold standard." VZV EIA had a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 87, 91, 87, and 91%, respectively, compared with CMI. Correlation was excellent except when the varicella index was 0.9 to 1.2. We defined sera with varicella indices of 0.9 to 1.2 as indeterminate. LA had a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 96, 91, 97, and 90%, respectively, compared with EIA. LA reactivity only at a 1:2 dilution did not correlate with CMI, but sera reactive at dilutions of > or = 1:8 indirectly did. We defined indeterminate sera as those reactive at 1:2 and nonreactive at 1:8. EIA and LA were equivalent for determining VZV immune status, and both methods required modified criteria of interpretation to increase their specificity.
Weinberg
A
A
Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver 80262, USA.
Hayward
A R
AR
Masters
H B
HB
Ogu
I A
IA
Levin
M J
MJ
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000914:Antibodies, Viral