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Diagnosis of Chickenpox

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Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. Chickenpox is usually diagnosed based on the rash. Blood and laboratory tests to identify the varicella zoster virus (VZV) are available for use in questionable cases, but they 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
  • Viral culture

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

  • Chickenpox. American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/chickenpox.html. Updated May 2010. Accessed May 30, 2013.

  • Chickenpox (varicella). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/chickenpox/. Updated April 25, 2013. Accessed May 30, 2013.

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

  • Varicella. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php . Updated April 13, 2013. Accessed May 30, 2013.