Serodiagnosis of Varicella-Zoster virus infection in pregnancy and standardization of the ELISA IgG and IgM antibody tests.

It is recognized that varicella virus infection in early pregnancy may cause severe congenital malformation and that varicella virus infection during the last 4 days of gestation until 48 h. after delivery can be dangerous for the child. Maternal Zoster has also been suggested as a cause of some congenital defect, but this association is poorly documented. Sensitive, specific and rapid indirect (ELISA) and direct (ELA) enzyme-linked-immunoassays for detecting Varicella and Herpes simplex virus, IgM-, IgA and IgG antibodies are employed for serodiagnosis of infection in the mother and the newborn and for determining the immunity status in high risk individuals who are exposed to V-Z infection. In the latter situation serological findings may serve as a guide for passive immunisation with Zoster-hyperimmunoglobulin (ZIG). The antibody concentration of the latter can now easily be standardized by the indirect ELISA-IgG-test. For determining the antibody concentration in the patient's sera in the indirect and direct ELISA with the method of Mona (Multiples of normal activity) a standardized test procedure using 2 optimal working dilutions has been established.