Schedule an Appointment Pay Bill View My Results
Banner Image

Test Directory

Browse A-Z History Resources

Varicella-Zoster Virus Antibody (IgM)

Test Summary

Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) causes chicken pox and when reactivated, potentially decades later, causes shingles. Twenty percent of adults will develop shingles, a rash or blister of the skin that may cause severe pain.

Aliases

  • N/A

Specimen Collection

Special Instructions

N/A

Preferred Specimen

1 mL serum

Minimum Volume

0.2 mL

Instructions

N/A

Patient Preparation

N/A

Storage

Plastic screw-cap vial

Transport Temperature

Room temperature

Specimen Stability

  • Room temperature: 4 days
  • Refrigerated: 7 days
  • Frozen: 30 days

Limitations

Other herpes viruses may cross react and produce high titers. Protection may be limited at low positive titers.

Other Acceptable Specimens

N/A

Unacceptable Specimens

Gross hemolysis • Grossly lipemic • Grossly icteric

Order Code

VZVABM

EPIC (Premier) Code

LAB1030

Includes

N/A

CPT Code

  • 86787

Billing Code

  • 670770

CPT Statement

CPT Statement

Methodology

Immunoassay (IA)

FDA Status

FDA Approved

Physician Attestation of Informed Consent

N/A

Testing Laboratory

Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute
14225 Newbrook Drive
Chantilly VA, 20153

Department

Reference Testing

Reference Range

VZV Ab (IgM) ≤0.90
Interpretive criteria
0.00-0.90 Negative
0.91-1.09 Equivocal
≥1.10 Positive
Results from any one IgM assay should not be used as a sole determinant of a current or recent infection. Because an IgM test can yield false positive results and low levels of IgM antibody may persist for more than 12 months post infection, reliance on a single test result could be misleading. If an acute infection is suspected, consider obtaining a new specimen and submit for both IgG and IgM testing in two or more weeks.

Setup Schedule / Expected Turnaround Time

Tuesday - Saturday morning; Report available: 1 day

Specimen Collection

Special Instructions

N/A

Preferred Specimen

1 mL serum

Minimum Volume

0.2 mL

Instructions

N/A

Patient Preparation

N/A

Storage

Plastic screw-cap vial

Transport Temperature

Room temperature

Specimen Stability

  • Room temperature: 4 days
  • Refrigerated: 7 days
  • Frozen: 30 days

Limitations

Other herpes viruses may cross react and produce high titers. Protection may be limited at low positive titers.

Other Acceptable Specimens

N/A

Unacceptable Specimens

Gross hemolysis • Grossly lipemic • Grossly icteric

Billing

CPT Code

  • 86787

Billing Code

  • 670770

CPT Statement

CPT Statement

Result Information

Methodology

Immunoassay (IA)

Testing Laboratory

N/A

Reference Range

VZV Ab (IgM) ≤0.90
Interpretive criteria
0.00-0.90 Negative
0.91-1.09 Equivocal
≥1.10 Positive
Results from any one IgM assay should not be used as a sole determinant of a current or recent infection. Because an IgM test can yield false positive results and low levels of IgM antibody may persist for more than 12 months post infection, reliance on a single test result could be misleading. If an acute infection is suspected, consider obtaining a new specimen and submit for both IgG and IgM testing in two or more weeks.

Setup Schedule / Expected Turnaround Time

Tuesday - Saturday morning; Report available: 1 day