Chickenpox Test

The varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a highly contagious virus that can cause both varicella (chickenpox) and herpes zoster (shingles). Chickenpox is a contagious viral disease characterized by an itchy, blister-like rash. Initially, the rash appears on the chest, back, and face and then spreads across the body. After you have chickenpox, most people become immune to the virus for the rest of their lives, and they usually don’t get chickenpox again. However, the virus stays inactive in your body and can reactivate as shingles later in life. Shingles can cause a viral outbreak of a painful rash or blisters on the skin. Unlike chickenpox, shingles is not contagious. However, VZV is contagious and if you have shingles, you can spread the virus to another person, and they may develop chickenpox.

Prior to VZV vaccination, chickenpox was very common in the United States. The chickenpox vaccine uses a small amount of live VZV virus to help protect against chickenpox in individuals 12 months and older.

After being exposed to VZV through infection or vaccination, a person's immune system produces antibodies to help fight against the viral infection. Our Chickenpox Test measures the level of IgG antibodies in the blood produced in response to VZV due to a previous infection.

Although the same virus causes shingles and chickenpox, they are not the same illness. Both chickenpox and shingles can start with a rash, but some of the symptoms that follow differ as noted below.

Chickenpox:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• An extremely itchy blister-like rash that usually appears on the chest, back, and face and then spreads across the body
• Fluid-filled blisters that eventually turn into scabs

Shingles:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Chills
• Upset stomach
• Sensitivity to bright light (photophobia)
• Severe pain, itching, or tingling in the area where the rash develops
• A blistering rash that typically develops on the left or right side of the body, and, in some cases, on one side of the face
• Fluid-filled blisters that eventually dry and crust over

Most chickenpox and shingles infections resolve without issues. The disease can be more severe and long-lasting in people with weakened immune systems, such as those living with HIV/AIDS or who have undergone organ transplantation.