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Has anyone been tested for immunity to chicken pox?

5 replies

memoo · 27/04/2009 10:30

I need to be tested as have come into direct contact with a child with chicken pox.

My midwife has made an appointment at clinic tomorrow for me but does anyone know how it works?

Is it a simple blood test and if so how long does it take to get the results back?

TIA

OP posts:

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stanausauruswrecks · 27/04/2009 10:48

Yep, they just take a sample of blood and screen it for varicella (chicken pox) antibodies - they don't do varicella screening at every hospital lab, so it may need to be sent off to your local hospital, and then sent on to your regional screening centre. It may take about a week for the results to come back.

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suwoo · 27/04/2009 10:51

I had to be screened as DS had chicken pox when I went for my booking in app and scan.

They did it in with the normal bloods and the lovely midwife rang me back the next day to say I was immune.

HTH

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Alibobster · 27/04/2009 13:37

I got tested and got results really quickly - I wasn't immune and had to get 2 big injections in my backside (didn't hurt at all due to all the excess padding !

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heartmoonshadow · 27/04/2009 17:17

Hi,

I was tested as could not find out from family if I had had the disease. Big Brother thought I had it when I was 2 but as he was only 8 at the time I decided not to rely on a 35 year old memory. Dad was useless could not remember and unfortunatley mum not here anymore. Anyway apart from 3 days of worry and no sleep I was fine, I went to the docs and asked to see if there was any record on my notes that matched big bro's memory as I thought mom would have got prescription calomine lotion as she had 3 children. It did say mild rash but other than that it was unhelpful.

Don't panic too much 90% of the population have had the disease even if they did not show symptoms.

Hope all goes well.

HMS

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memoo · 28/04/2009 11:50

Thanks for the positive messages guys. I have had my bloods taken this morning and Midwife said the results should be back by tomorrow afternoon.

The upside of this is that my boss says I can't come into work until I know if I'm immune as its the children at work who have had chicken pox!