Description
Why It’s Done:
• To diagnose active varicella (chickenpox) or shingles (herpes zoster) in individuals presenting with characteristic skin rashes and symptoms.
• To detect VZV infections in immunocompromised patients (e.g., those with HIV, cancer, or organ transplants) who may experience severe complications.
• To confirm VZV reactivation in patients with shingles or neurological symptoms (such as encephalitis or meningitis) caused by VZV.
Preparation:
• No special preparation is required for the test. The sample for the PCR test is typically collected from skin lesions, blisters, or bodily fluids (e.g., cerebrospinal fluid or blood) depending on the symptoms and suspected site of infection.
