The utility of serologic testing for varicella in an adolescent population.
The purpose of this study was to determine what proportion of adolescents without a history of varicella are seropositive, and if serologic testing of this adolescent subpopulation is cost-effective. We identified 122 patients with 'no' or 'unknown' histories of chicken pox from our adolescent clinic. Of these, 58 (48%) were found to be Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) seropositive. Cost to the government for batched serologic testing of all unknowns was $682.65, while each adolescent vaccinated cost $59.60. Serologic testing prior to routine immunization of adolescents with unclear varicella histories saved $2774.15 (38% of routine immunization costs). In this population, serologic testing is more cost effective than routinely immunizing all unknowns.
Ronan
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Department of Pediatrics, Naval Medical Center San Diego, Pediatrics Suite 100, 34520 Bob Wilson Drive, San Diego, CA 92134-2100, USA.
Wallace
M R
MR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine / Q000191:economics; D002648:Child; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000191:economics; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000191:economics; D014611:Vaccination / Q000191:economics
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine