Diagnosis of Chickenpox
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical examination. Chickenpox is almost always diagnosed on the basis of the telltale rash. Blood and laboratory tests to identify the VZV virus are available for use in questionable cases but are rarely necessary.
Blood and laboratory tests --several tests are available that may help confirm the diagnosis of chickenpox, including:
- Skin smear to infer the presence of chickenpox virus by staining
- Skin smear to detect chickenpox viral proteins using immunofluorescence
- Skin culture to grow the chickenpox virus in the lab
- Blood test to detect the presence and measure the amounts of antibodies to chickenpox virus
References:
Chickenpox. Medline Plus website. Available at: http://medlineplus.gov/.
The Merck Manual of Medical Information, 17th ed. Simon and Schuster, Inc.; 2000.
National Centers for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod.
Last reviewed October 2005 by David Horn, MD, FACP
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.