Davis's Lab & Diagnostic Tests
Rubella Testing
General
Synonym/Acronym:
German measles serology.
Rationale
To assist in confirming a diagnosis of a current, recent, or past rubella infection.
Patient Preparation
There are no food, fluid, activity, or medication restrictions unless by medical direction.
Normal Findings
Method: Chemiluminescent immunoassay.
| IgM | Interpretation | IgG | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Negative | No significant level of detectable rubella IgM antibody | Negative | No significant level of detectable rubella IgG antibody; indicative of nonimmunity |
| Indeterminate | Equivocal results; retest in 7–14 days | Indeterminate | Equivocal results; retest in 7–14 days |
| Positive | Rubella IgM antibody detected; indicative of recent immunization, current or recent infection | Positive | Rubella IgG antibody detected; indicative of immunization, current or past infection |
Critical Findings and Potential Interventions
A nonimmune status in pregnant patients may present significant health consequences for the developing fetus if the patient is exposed to an infected individual.
Timely notification to the requesting health-care provider (HCP) of any critical findings and related symptoms is a role expectation of the professional nurse. A listing of these findings varies among facilities.
Specific infectious organisms are required to be reported to local, state, and national departments of health. Lists of specific organisms may vary among facilities. State health departments provide information regarding reportable diseases, which can be accessed at each state health department website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide information regarding national notifiable diseases at https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/search-results-year/.
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