Table 2.

Comparison of ELISAs for detecting anti-VZV antibodies.

Type	Characteristics	Advantages	Limitations
WC-ELISA	Using whole lysates of VZV-infected cells as antigens	Commercially available. Antibodies against all VZV antigens can be detected.	Not sensitive enough to measure antibody responses to chickenpox vaccination.
gp-ELISA	Using purified VZV glycoproteins as antigens	Commercially available. Higher sensitivity and specificity than WC-ELISA.	Not sensitive enough to measure antibody responses to chickenpox vaccination (expect the Merck gp-ELISA). High cost of glycoprotein purification.
gE-ELISA	Using purified VZV gE as an antigen	Higher sensitivity and specificity than WC-ELISA.	Not commercially available. Only test for anti-gE antibodies.
Double antibody sandwich competitive ELISA	Capture antibody: anti-ORF9 antibody Detection antibody: HRP-labeled anti-gE antibody	Comparable sensitivity and specificity to FAMA	Not commercially available. Lacking further validation.
Double gE antigen sandwich ELISA	Using purified VZV gE as the coating antigen and HRP-labeled gE as the detection antigen.	Comparable sensitivity and specificity to FAMA	Not commercially available. Lacking further validation.