title: The differences in short- and long-term varicella-zoster virus (VZV) immunoglobulin G levels following varicella vaccination of healthcare workers measured by VZV fluorescent-antibody-to-membrane-antigen assay (FAMA), VZV time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay and a VZV purified glycoprotein enzyme immunoassay.
abstract: Healthcare workers (HCWs) reporting no history of varicella frequently receive varicella vaccination (vOka) if they test varicella-zoster virus (VZV) immunoglobulin G (IgG) negative. In this study, the utilities of VZV-IgG time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay (VZV-TRFIA) and a commercial VZV-IgG purified glycoprotein enzyme immunoassay (gpEIA) currently used in England for confirming VZV immunity have been compared to the fluorescent-antibody-to-membrane-antigen assay (FAMA). A total of 110 HCWs received two doses of vOka vaccine spaced 6 weeks apart and sera collected pre-vaccination (n = 100), at 6 weeks post-completion of vaccination (n = 86) and at 12-18 months follow-up (n = 73) were analysed. Pre-vaccination, by FAMA, 61·0% sera were VZV IgG negative, and compared to FAMA the sensitivities of VZV-TRFIA and gpEIA were 74·4% [95% confidence interval (CI) 57·9-87·0] and 46·2% (95% CI 30·1-62·8), respectively. Post-completion of vaccination the seroconversion rate by FAMA was 93·7% compared to rates of 95·8% and 70·8% determined by VZV-TRFIA and gpEIA, respectively. At 12-18 months follow-up seropositivity rates by FAMA, VZV-TRFIA and gpEIA were 78·1%, 74·0% and 47·9%, respectively. Compared to FAMA the sensitivities of VZV-TRFIA and gpEIA for measuring VZV IgG following vaccination were 96·4% (95% CI 91·7-98·8) and 74·6% (95% CI 66·5-81·6), respectively. Using both FAMA and VZV-TRFIA to identify healthy adult VZV susceptibles and measure seroconversion showed that vOka vaccination of HCWs is highly immunogenic.
authors.affiliation: Virus Reference Department,Public Health England,Reference Microbiology Services,Colindale,London,UK.
authors.forename: P A C
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5534-5191
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Maple
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection,The Cruciform Building,University College London,London,UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Haedicke
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection,The Cruciform Building,University College London,London,UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quinlivan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics,Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons,New York,USA.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Steinberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics,Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons,New York,USA.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Gershon
authors.affiliation: Virus Reference Department,Public Health England,Reference Microbiology Services,Colindale,London,UK.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection,The Cruciform Building,University College London,London,UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Breuer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine / Q000276:immunology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015200:Fluoroimmunoassay; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine; D007074:Immunoglobulin G
keywords: Fluorescent-antibody-to-membrane-antigen-assay; VZV glycoprotein EIA; VZV immunoglobulin G; VZV time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay; healthcare workers; vOka vaccine