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Measles (Rubeola) IgG

Rubeola (Measles) IgG, Rubeola (Measles) Antibodies, IgG, Measles Antibody, IgG, Rubeola IgG, Measles (Rubeola) Antibody, IgG

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB6898, Beaker: MEASL

Department

Special Chemistry

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: One Gold-top SST tube.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes then immediately centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F) the centrifuged collection tube within two hours of collection. (Minimum Serum: 0.5 mL)

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Centrifuged collection tube, refrigerated (2-8 °C or 36-46 °F). (Minimum Serum: 0.5 mL)

Rejection Criteria

• Plasma specimens.
• Severely lipemic, icteric, or hemolyzed specimens.

In-Lab Processing

Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes then immediately centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Room temperature is acceptable for a maximum of two hours. (Minimum Serum: 0.5 mL)

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Centrifuged SST Tubes and Microtainers^® with Separator Gels
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 8 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Red-top Tubes and Microtainers^® without Separator Gels
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 8 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Serum Specimens (Pour-Overs)
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 2 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 1 year

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days

Laboratory

Royal Oak Special Testing Laboratory

Performed

Tuesday – Saturday.
Results available within 3 business days.

Reference Range

Negative:  ≤ 0.8 U
Equivocal:  0.9-1.0 U
Positive:  ≥ 1.1 U

Test Methodology

Multiplex Flow Assay.

Interpretation

• Negative (Less than or equal to 13.4 AU/mL): The patient is seronegative and susceptible to a measles virus infection.
• Equivocal (13.5-16.4 AU/mL): The patient may or may not have protective levels of measles antibodies. Retesting is recommended.
• Positive (Greater than or equal to 16.5 AU/mL): Indicates past or recent acute measles infection. For immune status determinations, antibody levels greater than 16.4 AU/mL are considered protective.
• Positive results in neonates must be interpreted with caution. Maternal IgG is transferred passively from mother to the fetus before birth.
• False-negative results may occur in samples collected too early in the course of infection. A second serum sample obtained 14 to 21 days later should be tested for seroconversion.
• The presence of IgG antibody against a particular virus or organism may not assure protection from that disease in recently transfused or immunosuppressed patients.

Clinical Utility

Measles (Rubeola) IgG tests can be used to establish the immune status of an individual and as an aid in the detection of an active or recent infection. Measles (Rubeola) IgG first appears 1-2 days after the onset of rash and peak levels are achieved 2-3 weeks later. Measles IgG persists for the lifetime of the patient (1). Individual specimens may be used for the determination of immune status.

Clinical Disease

Measles (red measles, seven day measles) is an infectious, viral disease of childhood. The disease starts with a cold, fever, cough, conjunctivitis and malaise. A red blotchy rash develops on the face approximately 3 days after onset. The rash continues to spread to the rest of the body. Characteristically, Kopik's spots (tiny white spots) appear in the mouth and throat. Serious complications such as pneumonia, croup, or encephalitis can follow a rubeola infection.

Epidemiology

Measles occurs worldwide in temperate, tropical, and arctic climates. Prior to widespread measles vaccination, epidemics occurred at 2-5 year intervals in late winter and early spring (1).

Incubation Period

Fever usually occurs 9-12 days after virus exposure. The rash develops 10-14 days after exposure. Patients are infectious from 1-2 days before the appearance of the respiratory symptoms to the fourth day after the appearance of rash. Communicability is minimal after the second day of rash (1).

Transmission

Measles is extremely contagious and is transmitted via respiratory droplets, Measles may be transmitted by direct contact with oropharyngeal secretions or rarely, by articles freshly soiled with nasal or throat secretions.

Reference

1. Wiedbrauk D., Johnston SLG. Manual of Clinical Virology, Raven Press, New York, NY, 1993.

CPT Codes

86765
LOINC: 5244-9

Contacts

Last Updated

2/10/2024