title: Seroprevalence of varicella antibodies among pregnant women in Lyon-France.
abstract: The purpose of the study was to calculate the seroprevalence of immunity to the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection and to evaluate the positive predictive value (PPV) and the negative predictive value (NPV) of the self-reported history of VZV infection in pregnant women. A cross sectional study was conducted in 18 private medical analysis laboratories. Information on socio-demographic characteristics and past history of varicella or zoster were collected using a questionnaire. Blood samples were obtained to determine the serological levels of past exposure to VZV. Overall, 486 pregnant women were recruited. The seroprevalence of VZV antibodies was 98.8%. Six women were seronegative, of whom four were primiparous. The PPV was high (99.5%) while the NPV was only 10.3%. The PPV is a reliable marker of prior VZV infection. In contrast, a negative history does not predict lack of immunity and should be completed by serological analysis which might be introduced to routine antenatal blood tests.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Université de Lyon, F-69003, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saadatian-Elahi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mekki
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Del Signore
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lina
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Derrough
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caulin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thierry
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vanhems
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral