Serological Detection of Varicella-Zoster Virus-Specific Immunoglobulin G by an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Using Glycoprotein Antigen

Abstract

Since the introduction of varicella vaccination in several countries, there has been an urgent need for commercially available test procedures that allow highly sensitive and specific quantitative determination of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV)-specific immune status, including immunity postimmunization. This study compared the performance of two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for the sensitive and specific determination of VZV-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) in seronegative and latently infected persons, as well as in vaccinees. One ELISA is based on the detection of antibody to VZV-specific envelope glycoproteins (gp), and the other comprises the whole antigen extract prepared from VZV-infected cells. A modified standard fluorescent-antibody-to-membrane-antigen (FAMA) assay was used as a reference. An excellent sensitivity (100%) in relation to FAMA was demonstrated for the gpELISA (Virion\Serion), while the non-gpELISA (Dade Behring) had a lower sensitivity (83%) when sera from latently infected persons were tested. After postvaccinal immunity was measured, a sensitivity of 87% was achieved with gpELISA, whereas the ELISA incorporating antigen extract of VZV-infected cells had a sensitivity of 78%. Excellent specificity (100%) was calculated for both the gpELISA and the non-gpELISA. In conclusion, SERION ELISA classic VZV IgG is useful for the sensitive and specific quantitative determination of VZV immune status after natural infection. The test can also be recommended for measuring antibody response after varicella vaccination, particularly after the cutoff value was optimized.

Evaluation of Three Commercial Varicella-Zoster Virus IgG Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays in Comparison to the Fluorescent-Antibody-to-Membrane-Antigen Test

“…The FAMA test, accepted as the gold standard assay for the determination of IgG status to VZV, was used as the reference procedure. The test was performed using an in-house modification of the standard version (27) that was described recently (18,20,26). Titers of Ն1:2 (Table 2) were considered positive (18).…”

“…Most of these assays rely on lysate from whole cells infected with VZV for specific antigen, and only a few use purified VZV gp. Although individual commercial VZV gp ELISAs have been validated in comparison to VZV whole-cell ELISAs (20,22), the use of both types of ELISAs is controversial and gp ELISAs have not been accepted broadly.…”

Seroprevalencia de virus varicela-zoster en niños con cáncer en seis hospitales de Santiago, Chile

“…En los últimos años se perfeccionaron los tests de ELISA al utilizar como antígeno glicoproteínas de la envoltura viral purificadas alcanzando una mayor sensibilidad (93-95%) y preservando su especificidad (cercana a 100%) 17 ; la empleada en este estudio, Ridascreen® VVZ IgG ELISA, ha demostrado tener la mayor correlación con la técnica de FAMA 18,19 dándole una adecuada solidez a nuestros hallazgos.…”

Review of varicella-zoster virus infections in pregnant women and neonates

“…Furthermore, most currently used enzyme immunoassays are too insensitive to detect vaccine-induced VZV-specific IgG class antibodies [45] and sensitive procedures such as the fluorescent antibody to membrane antigen assay or tests for the determination of the cell-mediated immune response are too laborious and/or time consuming for daily routine. Recently, a new generation of VZV glycoprotein-based enzyme immunoassays has been shown to have higher sensitivity for the determination of VZV IgG [46].…”