Description
Viral Strain: ELLEN
Propagated in HF Cells
UV Inactivated
Detergent Free
Introduction: Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) is the etiologic agent of two clinical diseases: Chickenpox (Varicella) and Shingles (Zoster). Chickenpox is an acute generalized disease with the sudden onset of fever and vesicular eruptions of the skin and mucous membranes. Varicella is typically a disease of children and is rarely fatal except in immunocompromised patients.1 After an attack of chickenpox, the Varicella-Zoster virus lies dormant in the nerve tissue with the possibility of reactivation in the form of shingles, which may be manifest as an outbreak of a rash or blisters on the skin. Shingles is more common in people with weakened immune systems from HIV infection, chemotherapy or radiation treatment, transplant operations and stress.2
The presence of serum antibody to VZV has been shown to correlate with immunity to varicella. Determination of immune status to varicella is important for hospital personnel in contact with immunocompromised patients. With the licensing of the live attenuated VZV vaccine in North America, there is a necessity to determine the immune status of patients and evaluate their eligibility prior to administering the vaccine.
Varicella-Zoster Virus antigen product #7209 and product #7740 (detergent free) are prepared by the glycine extraction of human fibroblast infected with VZV, strain ELLEN. The inactivated antigen preparation is partially purified to reduce host cell components. This preparation yields high sensitivity and low background in the ELISA and other solid phase immunoassays