Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 20, 2026

Development of an IFN-γ ELISpot Assay to Assess Varicella-Zoster Virus-specific Cell-mediated Immunity Following Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation
Published on: July 9, 2014
A laboratory study of age-related varicella incidence and prevalence in the Czech Socialist Republic
J Trlifajová1, E Svandová, J Pokorný
1Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Prague, Czechoslovakia.
Abstract:
During 1972-1981, ten representative population samples totalling 2,916 individuals were tested for antibodies to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) by an indirect-haemagglutination assay (IHA). Statistical analysis of the results provided estimates of age-related varicella prevalence and incidence rates. It transpired that 45% of the child population had encountered varicella at preschool age and another 45% during the attendance of school. Adult seropositivity rates amounted to 97.5-100%. The highest varicella incidence was observed in the 4-year age interval of 2-6 years. For control, additional 324 and 297 individuals were tested by RIA and ELISA IgG, respectively; there was good correlation of results. For the period 1970-1985 varicella morbidity was also studied from notification data. As far as the authors are aware, the present investigation performed on a total of 3,537 subjects furnishes the most comprehensive information on nation-wide varicella incidence and prevalence obtained by laboratory methods.
Related Concept Videos
Relative Risk
Statistical Methods for Analyzing Epidemiological Data
Chickenpox

