Test To Confirm Shingles

Doctors use two types of tests to diagnose chickenpox or shingles.

Test to confirm shingles.

Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the cdc website. Tests are rarely needed but may include taking a skin sample to see if the skin is infected with the virus that causes shingles. Antibodies are proteins that your body makes due to infections and can be detected by laboratory tests. When you re exposed to varicella zoster virus your body makes antibodies to defend itself.

Shingles is usually diagnosed based on the history of pain on one side of your body along with the telltale rash and blisters. Varicella zoster virus tests detect either antibodies produced by the immune system in response to a vzv infection or detect the virus itself. Varicella zoster virus tests detect either antibodies produced by the immune system in response to a vzv infection or detect the virus itself. Your doctor may also take a tissue scraping or culture of the blisters for examination in the laboratory.

If you have an atypical rash or there aren t any good swabs to use as a sample for pcr serological testing can be used in addition to a physical exam to diagnose shingles typically by looking for antibodies in your blood. Polymerase chain reaction pcr is the most useful test for confirming cases of suspected zoster sine herpete herpes zoster type pain that occurs without a rash. If elevated white blood cells are observed your doctor may test your blood for antibodies to the herpes zoster virus. Pcr can be used to detect vzv dna rapidly and sensitively and is now widely available.

Your healthcare provider will be able to tell if you have shingles by. Examining your skin asking about your symptoms asking questions about your medical history such as whether you ve had chickenpox if your immune system is weak your. Blood tests may show an increase in white blood cells and antibodies to the chickenpox virus but they cannot confirm that the rash is due to shingles. Linking to a non federal website does not constitute an endorsement by cdc or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.

When you re exposed to varicella zoster your immune system makes proteins to fight it.