title: European seroepidemiology network 2: Standardisation of assays for seroepidemiology of varicella zoster virus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the European Sero-Epidemiology Network (ESEN2) is to harmonise the serological surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases in Europe.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To allow comparison of antibody prevalence in different countries by standardising results into common units.
  
  
  METHODS
  For varicella zoster virus (VZV), a reference laboratory established a panel of 148 samples, characterised by indirect enzyme-immunoassay (ELISA), indirect immunofluorescence, and complement fixation test. Fifty-seven samples were also studied by the fluorescence antibody to membrane antigen test. The geometric mean of the antibody activity (GMAA) obtained from four ELISA determinations was used to characterise each sample of the panel as positive (GMAA: >100 mIU/ml), equivocal (GMAA: 50-100 mIU/ml) or negative (GMAA: <50 mIU/ml) for antibody to VZV (anti-VZV). Thirteen laboratories, using five different ELISA tests, tested the panel.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Agreement with the reference laboratory was above 85% in all cases, and the R(2) values obtained from regression analysis of the quantitative results were always higher than 0.87. Finally, the regression equations could be used to convert national values into a common unitage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirmed that results for anti-VZV obtained by different ELISA methods can be converted into common units, enabling the comparison of the seroprevalence profiles obtained in the participant countries.
authors.affiliation: Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain. fory@isciii.es
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Ory
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Echevarría
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kafatos
authors.forename: Cleo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Anastassopoulou
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: Josephine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Backhouse
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berbers
authors.forename: Blazena
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bruckova
authors.forename: Daniel I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Hester
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: de Melker
authors.forename: Irja
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Davidkin
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gabutti
authors.forename: Louise M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Hesketh
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.forename: Sari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jokinen
authors.forename: Lindsay
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Anika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Linde
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Joël
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mossong
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nardone
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Rota
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sauerbrei
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Zahava
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Smetana
authors.forename: Annedore
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tischer
authors.forename: Athanassios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsakris
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vranckx
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D005060:Europe; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000097:blood*; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories / Q000592:standards; D012015:Reference Standards; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral