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Blood Tests > Varicella Antibodies Test
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A varicella antibodies test, also known as a varicella-zoster virus (VZV) antibody test, looks for antibodies in your blood. These antibodies are produced to fight the varicella-zoster virus (a virus that is responsible for causing diseases like chickenpox and shingles).
It is an important test to determine immunity, especially when planning on becoming pregnant.
A Varicella Antibodies Test helps determine if an individual has immunity to the varicella-zoster virus. This test is particularly important for:
Preventing Unnecessary Exposure: It helps avoid chickenpox outbreaks in schools, daycares, and other group settings.
Chickenpox is a viral infection and it is highly contagious. It brings on an extremely itchy rash with small, fluid-filled blisters. The varicella-zoster virus also causes shingles. It is a very painful viral infection that causes a rash of small blisters or red spots on the skin.
After a person has chickenpox, the virus remains in their body and can reactivate years later as shingles. Understanding whether you are immune to chickenpox can help prevent both primary infection and the risk of shingles.
The varicella-zoster virus can be very dangerous in pregnancy. If a pregnant woman gets chickenpox during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, the baby has a 1 in 50 chance of developing various birth defects. It is known as Congenital Varicella Syndrome (CVS). Symptoms include brain, eye, skin, muscle, and bone defects, as well as low birth weight and intellectual disability.
If a pregnant woman gets chickenpox in the days or weeks before giving birth, or if the baby gets chickenpox in the first few weeks of life, they may be born with neonatal varicella, which can be life-threatening.
In some cases, the result may be inconclusive, which means further testing may be needed to determine immunity
A positive result indicates that you have antibodies to the varicella-zoster virus, which suggests that you have either had chickenpox in the past or have been vaccinated against it. This means you are immune to the virus
A negative result suggests that you do not have immunity to the virus. If you are not immune, vaccination may be recommended to protect you from chickenpox
Use our online booking engine or book your test by giving us a call.
On the online booking engine select the “appointment type” you need.
You will be seen by one of our friendly phlebotomists or trained clinicians.
Typically, no specific preparations are required for a Varicella Antibody Test. However, it is advisable to inform the healthcare provider if you are or breastfeeding.
The test involves a simple blood draw. This typically takes just a few minutes. A needle will be used to collect a small sample of blood. The procedure is usually quick and well-tolerated.
You may resume your normal activities immediately after the blood draw. Your results will usually take a few days to process. If the test is positive, it means you have immunity to the virus. If the test is negative, you may need to consider getting vaccinated against the virus.
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