Diagnosis of Chickenpox - Reston Hospital Center | Reston, VA
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Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical examination. Chickenpox is usually diagnosed based on the telltale rash. Blood and laboratory tests to identify the varicella zoster virus (VZV) 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
  • Blood test to detect the presence and measure the amounts of antibodies to chickenpox virus

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

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References

  • DynaMed Editorial Team. Varicella. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://dynamed.ebscohost.com/about/about-us. Updated November 5, 2010. Accessed November 11, 2010.

  • Long S, Pickering L, Prober C. Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 3rd ed. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone; 2008.

  • Mayo Clinic. Chicken pox. Mayo Clinic website. Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/chickenpox/DS00053 . Updated September 3, 2010. Accessed November 11, 2010.

  • The Merck Manual of Medical Information . 17th ed. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster; 2000.