Re: Vaccination -(Now Rubella Titers-What do they mean?)

[Guest guest]

What does the test result mean?

In an adult or child, the absence of IgG rubella antibodies means that the

person likely has not been exposed to the rubella virus or been vaccinated and

is not protected against it. The presence of IgG antibodies but not IgM

antibodies indicates a history of past exposure to the virus or vaccination and

indicates that the person tested should be immune to the rubella virus. The

presence of IgG antibodies, but not IgM antibodies, in a newborn means that the

mother's IgG antibodies have passed to the baby in utero and these antibodies

may protect the infant from rubella infection during the initial six months of

life. The presence of IgM antibodies in a newborn indicates that the baby was

infected during pregnancy (because the mother's IgM antibodies do not pass to

the baby through the umbilical cord). The presence of IgM antibodies, with or

without IgG antibodies, in a child or adult indicates a recent infection with

the rubella virus.

IgM IgG Interpretation

Adult/Child + +/- Recent infection

Adult/Child

+ Prior infection, immune

Newborn +

In utero infection

Newborn

+ Maternal immunities, passive immunity for up to six months

Occasionally, a patient will have a false positive test for IgM rubella

antibodies because the test components cross react with other proteins in their

body. To confirm the IgM result, the doctor may order an IgG test to establish a

baseline level of antibody and may repeat the IgG test again in 2-3 weeks to

look for a significant increase in the amount (titer) present, indicating a

recent rubella infection.