The answer is: no. And there are currently no laboratory tests for shingles infection in hospitals.
This is because the diagnosis of shingles is still very simple, that is, the appearance of scattered or continuous herpes or papules in the corresponding area of the damaged nerve, accompanied by neuralgia or abnormal sensation, can confirm the diagnosis of herpes zoster. It can be said that an experienced doctor will know whether it is shingles or not by "one glance". Because there is no difficulty in diagnosing herpes, there are currently no tests for blood antibodies or viruses for shingles in hospitals.
Of course, there are exceptions to everything, and in individual cases, there are times when shingles is more difficult to diagnose. For example, in herpes zoster without eruption, there is no rash, only neuralgia. In this case, it is still necessary to rule out other causes. Neuralgia**, if all are excluded, can be considered for shingles.
Some patients said, "I went to the hospital and gave me a test, saying I had a shingles infection." Then you should do an antibody test for herpes simplex (blood herpes simplex type 1 and type 2 IgG and IgM antibodies).
Although herpes simplex and herpes zoster are both herpes viruses, the former is human herpesviruses 1 and 2, and the latter is human herpesvirus 3. So it's not the same disease. Herpes simplex is more common in the mucous membranes and is not distributed by nerve travel. It is often reversed, but neuralgia is not obvious. Therefore, it is still relatively easy to distinguish from shingles.