The incidence of complement-fixing antibody to varicella-zoster virus in hospital patients and blood donors

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Abstract
SUMMARY: The sera of 308 patients, not suffering from varicella or zoster infections, and the sera of 183 blood donors were examined for complement-fixing antibody to varicella-zoster virus. In both groups about 70% of sera from persons aged 11–40 years had antibody titres ≥ 1/4; the incidence was less in the age range 41–60 years and increased in later decades. Antibody titres of 1/16 or 1/32 were noticeably less frequent in those aged 41–60 years than in younger or older groups.It was concluded that an unchanging titre of 1/16 or 1/32 was of no diagnostic significance. The age distribution of antibody was consistent with the theory that zoster only occurs when antibody has declined.