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Test Code Billings Clinic: 7685 Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) Antibodies, IgG, Serum

Performing Laboratory

Montana Public Health Laboratory, Helena, Montana

Specimen Requirements

Collection:

  • Draw blood in a serum gel tube(s).
  • Spin down and send 2 mL of serum.
  • Screen or acute and convalescent specimens are recommended.
  • Acute specimen should be drawn during onset of illness and convalescent should be drawn 2 weeks post acute.
  • Label specimen appropriately (ie,unpaired:  “acute” or “convalescent” or paired:  “paired acute” and “paired convalescent”).

Transport:

  • Transport Temperature: 2-30°C (Refrigeration preferable)

Reference Values

Reference values are included with patient’s report.

Day(s) Test Set Up

Monday through Friday

Test Classification and CPT Coding

86787 - Antibody; varicella-zoster

Special Instructions - Client Services

Do not send OB/GYN specimens here. Send them to PAML.

To qualify for STAT testing, all of the following criteria must be met:

1. The patient is at high risk for complications and has been recently exposed to a known case of chickenpox. High risk patients are defined as immunocompromised persons, pregnant women, premature infants whose mothers are not immune, premature infants < 28 weeks gestation, and premature infants < 1000 grams at birth

2. The patient does not have a history of chicken pox and/or does not know their immune status.

3. Exposure has been recent enough that the 96-hour window for administration of VZIG is achievable if the testing determines the patient to be susceptible to VZV infection.