Immunity to varicella-zoster virus in a normal adult population.

Sera from 489 trainee nurses were examined, by the ELISA technique, for the presence of varicella-zoster virus specific antibody; antibody was found in 446 (91.2%). In more detailed investigations of specific immunity in 33 healthy adults with a past history of chickenpox, 32 (97%) showed a positive lymphocyte transformation test, but only 11 out of 23 examined (48%) demonstrated mononuclear cell production of specific antibody in vitro; serum antibody was found in 30 (91%) by the ELISA and in 25 out of 26 examined (96%) by the FAMA technique. A high degree of correlation was found between both a positive lymphocyte transformation and the presence of serum antibody and a past history of chickenpox.