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Evaluation of a Skin Test for Chicken Pox

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Alfred L. Florman ,
Edith I Umland ,
Denise Ballou ,
Alice H. Cushing ,
Leroy C. McLaren ,
T. John Gribble  and
Marilyn H. Duncan
Alfred L. Florman*
Affiliation:
Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, and Microbiology, University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Edith I Umland
Affiliation:
Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, and Microbiology, University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Denise Ballou
Affiliation:
Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, and Microbiology, University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Alice H. Cushing
Affiliation:
Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, and Microbiology, University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Leroy C. McLaren
Affiliation:
Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, and Microbiology, University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico
T. John Gribble
Affiliation:
Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, and Microbiology, University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Marilyn H. Duncan
Affiliation:
Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, and Microbiology, University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico
*
Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM 87131
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Abstract

Results with a VZV skin test as a marker of past infection were compared with histories of chicken pox and specific antibody detected by ELISA in 100 individuals—25 of whom were pediatric patients with malignant diseases. A negative or uncertain history was not reliable, neither were the skin test results among the oncology patients. However, among the normal individuals, the skin test when compared with the ELISA had a sensitivity of 85%, a specificity of 100%, and a positive predictive value of 100%.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 6 , Issue 8 , August 1985 , pp. 314 - 316
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1985

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References

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