Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) Antibody, IgM, Serum

VZV

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB163, Beaker: XVZM, Warde: VARM

Department

Send Outs

Instructions

Acute and convalescent specimens must be labeled as such; parallel testing is preferred, and convalescent specimens MUST be received within 30 days of the acute specimens. Please mark specimen plainly as "acute" or "convalescent."

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect (preferred specimen): One Gold-top SST tube.
Also acceptable: One plain Red-top tube.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes then centrifuge to separate serum from cells within two hours of collection. Transfer serum to a plastic transport tube and freeze (-20°C/-4°F or below).

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 1.0 mL serum, frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below). (Minimum: 0.5 mL)

Rejection Criteria

• Hemolyzed specimens.
• Severely lipemic specimens.
• Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes then centrifuge to separate serum from cells within two hours of collection. Transfer serum to a plastic transport tube and freeze (-20°C/-4°F or below).

Transport: 1.0 mL serum, freeze (-20°C/-4°F or below). (Minimum: 0.5 mL)

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 8 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 48 hours
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 14 days

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Specimen retention time is determined by the policy of the reference laboratory. Contact the Send Outs Laboratory with any questions.

Laboratory

Sent to Warde Medical Laboratory, Ann Arbor, MI.

Performed

Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday.
Results available in 2-5 days.

Reference Range

Negative: Less than or equal to 0.90 Index - No significant level of detectable varicella-zoster virus IgM antibody.

Equivocal: 0.91-1.09 Index - Repeat testing in 10-14 days may be helpful.

Positive: Greater than or equal to 1.10 Index - Significant level of detectable varicella-zoster virus IgM antibody. Indicative of current or recent infection.

Test Methodology

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA).

CPT Codes

86787

Contacts

Last Updated

1/8/2025