Lymphocyte-associated viremia in varicella.

Varicella-zoster virus was isolated from mononuclear cells from seven immunocompetent children with varicella during the late incubation period and during the acute phase of the disease. The cells from which the virus was isolated were nonphagocytic and did not adhere to the surface of plates. The results indicate lymphocyte-associated viremia at the time of onset of varicella.