Measles Serology (IgG)

Testing site

• Alaska State Virology Laboratory (ASVL)
• Fairbanks Lab Request Form

Diseases

• High fever, rash, cough
• Brain inflammation
• Pneumonia

Organisms

• Measles virus
• Rubeola virus

Test Method 

Chemiluminescence Enzyme Immunoassay (DiaSorin Liaison® XL)

This is an assay used to determine immune status through the presence of measles IgG antibodies.  

Availability 

Routine testing

Please contact the Alaska State Virology Laboratory if requesting testing be added for a previously submitted specimen.

Specimen types

Serum   

• Minimum volume required: 1.5mL  
• Blood collected in a serum separator tube (SST) is recommended.  

Specimen collection instructions 

• Collect the blood aseptically by venipuncture in SST and centrifuge from red blood cells within 2 hours.  
• Indicate date shipped and date frozen on the Fairbanks Requisition Form.  

Storage/Transport 

• Store spun SST frozen at <-20°C to stage for shipping.  Self-defrosting freezers are not recommended for sample storage.
• Ship on dry ice or many frozen packs to maintain specimen temperature at <-20°C. Ambient temperature shipping (20-25C) is not recommended according to the reagent manufacturer guidelines.  Refrigerated specimens (2-8C) are also not recommended due to manufacturer limitations on completing testing within 9 days (including transit time) if stored at 2-8°C.  
• Samples received warm (>8), grossly hemolyzed, highly lipemic or turbid, or collected in other types of blood vials will be rejected.  
• Package, label, and ship as UN3373 Biological Substance, Category B.

Results (with normal results) 

Measles IgG Ab

• Negative:  No IgG antibodies specific to rubeola (measles) detected. No indication of previous exposure to measles virus through infection or vaccination.
• Equivocal: Borderline result. Obtain an additional specimen for retesting in 1-2 weeks.
• Positive: IgG antibody to rubeola (measles) detected.  May indicate exposure to measles virus via infection or vaccination.   

Normal result is Positive for vaccinated individuals. 

Turnaround time

• 1-4 days 

CPT code and fee, if applicable

[none] 

Testing unit 

Clinical Virology 

Notes  

Resources

• Specimen Acceptability Criteria for Serology Testing at ASVL.pdf   
• Clinical Overview of Measles