Rubella infections are prevented by active immunization programs using live, attenuated virus vaccine. The rubella vaccine is combined with the measles and mumps vaccines in the MMR Vaccine, which is most commonly given in infancy, but also to those who are immunocompromised.
At the meetings of WHO European Regional Verification Committee for measles and rubella elimination, in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, it was concluded that Ireland provided evidence for the elimination or rubella.
The disease has an incubation period of 2-3 weeks. Rubella usually begins with malaise, low-grade fever and a morbilliform rash appearing on the same day. The rash starts on the face, extends to the trunk and extremities and rarely last more than 3 days. Other symptoms include swollen glands (post cervical lymphadenopathy), joint pains, headache, and conjunctivitis.
If a pregnant mother is infected within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, she might have miscarriage, stillbirth, or baby born with Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS). CRS follows intrauterine infection by the Rubella virus and comprises cardiac, cerebral, ophthalmic, and auditory defects. The humoral immune response to rubella virus infection is typical of most viral infections, with an initial rise in Immunoglobulin M (IgM) followed by a slightly delayed response in rubella-specific Immunoglobulin G (IgG). Anti-rubella virus IgM is usually detectable within 2 to 5 days after the appearance of a rash and persists for 1 to 3 months. Rubella virus IgG becomes detectable shortly after the appearance of IgM and usually remains detectable over the lifetime of the infected individual
5mL venous serum or plasma
Enfer Medical offers a two-step immunoassay for the quantitative determination and qualitative detection of IgG antibodies to rubella virus in human serum and plasma using chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) technology This test is CE-IVD certified.
For clients using the Enfer Medical Client Portal, the Enfer Medical Patient Request Form (PRF) will be generated when you have completed your “Test Request” within the portal linked below.
Please note that samples suspected of containing high risk pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis should be clearly identified on the form and packed separately from other samples.
Results are available on the next working day.
This assay is available seven days a week.
The packaging/preparation of samples for delivery to the laboratory are required to be in adherence to all national regulations for the safe transport of biological materials. HSE guidance can be reviewed HERE.
There are specific packaging instructions and labelling requirements requiring triple packaging including:
Further information on the packaging/preparation of samples for delivery to the laboratory is contained within the Enfer Medical Laboratory User Manual which clients are provided with.
Samples must be tested within 14 days of collection and stored at 2-8°C.
In addition to the packaging of samples, the transport/delivery of clinical samples to the laboratory is required to be in adherence to all national regulations for the safe transport of biological materials. Enfer Medical provides a fully compliant logistics service, aligned with clients’ testing requirements.
Prompt transport of specimens:
To ensure prompt testing of samples and release of results within the published test turnaround times, samples should arrive to the laboratory by 18:00. Test turnaround time is measured from receipt of the sample at the laboratory until the time the authorised results are reported to users.
In rare cases specimens may not be suitable for testing on arrival to the laboratory. In that case the sample will be rejected at the receipt stage and the service user will be notified immediately and an explanation as to why the sample could not be processed will be provided. Reasons why samples cannot be processed include but are not limited to:
Following receipt at the Laboratory, results should be available on the next working day and will be reported to the referring clinician via the Enfer Medical Client Portal or in a format agreed with clients.
Established clients can login to the portal using the link above.
