IMMUNITY TO VARICELLA-ZOSTER VIRUS IN A NORMAL ADULT POPULATION

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Abstract
Sera from 489 trainee nurses were examined, by the ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) technique, for the presence of varicella-zoster virus specific antibody; antibody was found in 446 (91.2%). In more detailed investigations of specific immunity in 33 healthy adults with a past history of chickenpox, 32 (97%) showed a positive lymphocyte transformation test, but only 11 of 23 examined (48%) demonstrated mononuclear cell production of specific antibody in vitro; serum antibody was found in 30 (91%) by the ELISA and in 25 of 26 examined (96%) by the flourescent antibody to the membrane antigen, technique. A high degree of correlation was found between both a postive lymphocyte transformation and the presence of serum antibody and a past history of chickenpox.