To compare history of varicella with presence of varicella antibody in refugees and to determine the number of unnecessary doses of varicella vaccine administered to refugee children ≥7 years of age.: Cross-sectional study of refugees ≥7 years of age evaluated between July 2000 and October 2002 by the Refugee Health Assessment Program at Boston Medical Center. We recorded age, sex, region of origin, varicella history, and results of serologic testing for presence of varicella antibodies.: Eighty-eight percent of individuals with a positive history of clinical varicella had varicella antibody; 65% of those with negative history had varicella antibody. The positive predictive value of a history of clinical varicella was 88%. The negative predictive value of a negative history was 39%.: History of varicella was not a reliable predictor of presence or absence of varicella antibody in refugees. Strategies to protect individuals with negative histories of clinical varicella include immediate immunization or serotesting followed by immunization of susceptible individuals. Relying on positive histories of clinical varicella may leave some individuals susceptible to varicella and impede efforts to eliminate varicella in the US. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[No Keywords available]

antibody blood level refugee Antibodies, Viral antibody Europe sex ratio human Refugees middle aged Asia controlled study chickenpox priority journal Aged United States school child Humans antibody detection Adolescent male female Aged, 80 and over prediction Africa Caribbean Region Article major clinical study adult serology drug dose regimen disease predisposition age distribution vaccination anamnesis immunization cost-benefit analysis immunoassay chickenpox vaccine Child