A blood test which measures your immunity to the varicella zoster virus which causes chickenpox and shingles.
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Immunity
Varicella zoster IgG
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Varicella Zoster is another name for the virus which causes chickenpox and shingles. It is a type of herpes virus and tends to infect a large proportion of the population at a young age, causing chicken pox, and from there on it lays dormant in the nerve cells. However, in about 25% of people, the virus may reactivate later in life, presenting itself as shingles, a painful blistering rash focussed on one particular area of the body. Testing for the presence of IgG in the blood indicates whether someone has previously been infected and has developed immunity to the virus.
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How it works
Your personalised, actionable health results are only a few clicks away. Order your test, take and post your sample, then view your results online with our doctors' comments.
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Track, improve, and monitor your health over time
MyMedichecks is your personal online dashboard where you can view your results, access clear and simple explanations about individual health markers, monitor changes in your health, and securely store information about your medical history, lifestyle, and vital statistics.
FAQs
Who is at high risk of chickenpox?
Some groups of people are at higher risk of complications if they become infected with chickenpox, such as pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.
Is shingles the same as chickenpox?
Although shingles is caused by the same virus (varicella zoster) that causes chickenpox, they are not the same illness.
What is chickenpox?
Chickenpox is a common infection that normally affects children under ten years old. In children, it is generally a mild infection, which is why most parents actively try to expose their children to chickenpox when they are young so that they acquire immunity. However, the symptoms can be more severe in adults and can lead to more complications.