Diagnostic Usefulness of Varicella-Zoster Virus Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis of DNA in Saliva and Plasma Specimens From Patients With Herpes Zoster

Abstract

Real-time PCR analysis of salivary DNA is more sensitive than that of plasma DNA for detecting VZV among patients with suspected herpes zoster. We found no subclinical reactivation of VZV in group 3 following exposure to common stressful conditions.