To diagnose a measles or mumps infection; to establish whether you have immunity to measles or mumps due to a previous infection or to vaccination; to confirm a measles or mumps case and investigate its source
Measles and Mumps Tests
When you have signs and symptoms or complications that may be due to a measles or mumps infection; when it is necessary or desired to determine measles or mumps immunity; when an outbreak is occurring in order to track the spread of measles or mumps in the community and prevent spread to others
A blood sample drawn from a vein for measles or mumps antibody testing; to detect the virus itself, the sample may be blood, urine, nasopharyngeal (nasal) aspirate/washing, throat swab, swab of the inside of the cheek (buccal swab)
Prior to collection of a cheek swab for mumps, the salivary gland located in front of and below the ear (parotid gland) is massaged. For other specimens, no test preparation is needed.
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How is the test used?
Measles and mumps tests may be used to:
- Confirm that you are immune to the viruses due to previous infections or vaccination
- Diagnose an active case of measles or mumps
- Detect, monitor, and track outbreaks for public health purposes
A few different methods are available to test for measles or mumps:
Antibody testing (serology)
Antibody testing detects the antibodies produced by the immune system in response to a measles or mumps infection or vaccine. This testing may be used to determine whether you are immune, diagnose an active case, or to track outbreaks. There are two classes of antibodies produced:- Immunoglobulin M (IgM) is the first type of antibody produced after infection or vaccination. The IgM antibody level (titer) increases for several days, peaks, and then begin to taper off over the next few weeks.
- Immunoglobulin G (IgG) is produced later, but once they develoo, they remain in the body for life, providing protection against re-infection. Sometimes, two blood samples are collected several days apart (acute and convalescent samples) and the level of antibodies is measured and compared. This may help to differentiate between an active infection and a prior infection.
Direct detection of the virus
Molecular methods such as PCR may be used to detect the measles or mumps virus directly in a sample. These methods only identify active infections and cannot confirm immunity.Viral genetic testing (RT-PCR) detects and identifies the genetic strain of the virus. Most RT-PCR testing is performed by public health laboratories and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Viral detection testing may occasionally be performed to identify the cause of severe complications that may be associated with an infection from the measles or mumps virus. Since people with weakened immune systems may not have a typical antibody response, a test to detect viral genetic material may be performed to confirm the diagnosis of a mumps or measles infection, especially if antibody results do not match clinical findings or a health practitioner's suspicions.
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When is it ordered?
An IgG antibody test for measles or mumps may be ordered when your health practitioner wants to determine whether you are immune to one or both of the viruses, either because of a previous infection or due to vaccination.
Measles or mumps IgM and IgG antibody tests or PCR may be ordered when you have typical signs and symptoms of measles or mumps or when you have had contact with an infected individual and now have symptoms that could be due to measles or mumps.
Signs and symptoms of measles develop about 7 to 18 days after infection and usually include one or more of the following:
- A characteristic rash that usually starts on the face and spreads down the body to the trunk and legs
- High fever
- Dry cough
- Red, watery, itchy eyes
- Sensitivity to light
- A runny nose
- Sore throat
- Tiny white spots inside the mouth
Signs and symptoms of mumps typically develop about 2 to 3 weeks after infection and often resemble symptoms of the flu, such as:
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Fever
- These are followed by characteristic swelling of the salivary glands below one or both ears called parotitis.
Testing may also be ordered during a suspected or confirmed outbreak, when several people may have been in contact with an infected person and are unvaccinated or have the signs and symptoms listed above.
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What does the test result mean?
Antibody testing
A positive IgM antibody test in someone who has not been recently vaccinated means it is likely that the person has a current measles or mumps infection. Positive IgM and IgG antibody tests or a fourfold increase in IgG levels (titers) in blood samples collected several days apart means it is likely that the person has a current or had a recent measles or mumps infection.When measles or mumps IgG antibodies are present in a person who has been vaccinated and/or is not currently ill, then that person is protected against infection (immune). If a person does not have measles or mumps IgG antibodies, then that person is not considered immune to the viruses.
The following table summarizes results that may be seen with antibody testing:
IgM IgG Possible Interpretation(s) Positive Negative Early infection Positive Positive (with an increase in levels in blood samples collected several days apart; this would only be done if the IgM test is not available) Current or recent infection Negative Positive Immunity from prior infection or vaccination Negative Negative No current or prior infection; not immune; no or low immune response due to compromised immune system Viral detection
A positive measles or mumps PCR test for the virus's genetic material means that you have a current viral infection.If a specific strain of measles or mumps virus is identified, then this genetic strain is the cause of the infection and the genetic information can be used to help determine the source of a measles or mumps infection, such as recent travel to a specific country or recent exposure to another person with an active infection. The result of measles or mumps genetic testing is used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to monitor the spread of the virus, to identify cases that are part of outbreaks, and prevent further spread.
If the measles or mumps PCR test is negative, it may mean that you are not infected and signs and symptoms are due to another cause. However, a negative result does not necessarily rule out an active infection because the virus may have been present in numbers too low to detect or may not have been present in the sample tested. If an infection is strongly suspected after a negative result, repeat or follow-up testing may be done.
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If I have measles or mumps and develop complications, will they go away once the infection resolves?
In most cases they will, but some complications, such as blindness, deafness, and rarely tissue or organ damage, may be permanent. The swelling of testicles (orchitis) that is sometimes seen with mumps can occasionally cause infertility.
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When do people typically get measles and mumps vaccinations?
Two doses of the MMR vaccine are needed for full protection. Children are given the first dose of MMR vaccine between 12 and 15 months of age and a booster immunization is typically given before the start of kindergarten between 4 and 6 years of age.
The measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine contains a live, attenuated (weakened) form of the viruses. Those with weakened immune systems and women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant within the next month should not receive the vaccine. The initial dose of the vaccine is recommended for infants at 12-15 months of age and a second dose is given at 4-6 years of age.
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Should everyone be tested for measles and mumps immunity?
A test to document antibody response to the MMR vaccine is not recommended since most people produce an antibody response to the viruses in the vaccine. There are several common situations, such as entry to a university or employment in a health care setting, where you may need to provide proof that you have had the measles and mumps infections, or that you have had two MMR vaccinations, or that you have immunity to measles and mumps infection.
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Is there anything else I should know?
Viral cultures for measles and mumps are not routinely available but may occasionally be done on samples such as a nasopharyngeal aspirate or washing, throat swab, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), or urine,.to help make a diagnosis.





