Varicella zoster virus causes both latent, asymptomatic and symptomatic infections. During primary infection shedding can occur from sites other than the primary lesion, similarly during reactivation virus shedding may occur in the presence or absence of symptoms.
Diagnostic testing is helpful when clinical diagnosis is uncertain (especially immunocompromised individuals), where atypical lesions are present or when antiviral therapy is contemplated.
Microbiology - Virology
Swabs = HERP; CSF = CNSP; Other samples (eg Tissue/Aspirate) = DVAR
Chicken pox
Herpes zoster virus
Shingles
VZV
3 days
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