The IgG rubella test is ordered
when a woman is pregnant or is planning on becoming pregnant
. It is ordered whenever a check for immunity against rubella is required. IgM and IgG rubella tests may be ordered when a pregnant woman has signs and symptoms that may indicate a rubella infection.
How do they test for rubella in pregnancy?
A rubella test is usually done for a woman who is or wants to become pregnant to determine whether she is at risk for rubella. Several laboratory methods can be used to detect rubella antibodies in the blood. The most commonly used method is
the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA, EIA)
.
How do you know if you are immune to rubella?
Am I immune? You are only
immune if a blood test tells you you are
. Rubella is very hard to recognise and what you were told was rubella could easily have been something else. Immunisation is the only way to protect yourself against rubella.
What is rubella antibody detected in pregnancy?
A rubella blood test detects antibodies that are made by the immune system to help kill the rubella virus. The test for
IgG antibodies
is most common and is the test done to see if a woman who is pregnant or planning to get pregnant is immune to rubella.
What happens if rubella IgG is positive during pregnancy?
A positive test is 1.0 or higher. That means you have
rubella antibodies in your blood and are immune to future infection
. A negative test is 0.7 or lower. You have too few antibodies to make you immune.
What are the symptoms of rubella in pregnancy?
- A low-grade fever and mild aches and pains, sometimes red eyes.
- A rash of pink or light red spots that start on the face and spread down to the rest of the body.
- Neck glands may swell up and feel tender, especially behind the ears.
What happens if you get rubella while pregnant?
Pregnant women who contract rubella are
at risk for miscarriage or stillbirth
, and their developing babies are at risk for severe birth defects with devastating, lifelong consequences. CRS can affect almost everything in the developing baby’s body.
What happens if you are not immune to rubella while pregnant?
If a pregnant woman is not immune to rubella and catches it during the first 5 months of pregnancy,
she usually passes the disease on to her fetus
. If the fetus gets rubella during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, the baby will likely be born with many problems.
What does rubella look like?
The main symptom of rubella is a
red or pink spotty rash
. The rash takes 2 to 3 weeks to appear after getting rubella. The rash starts behind the ears and spreads to the head, neck, and body. The rash can be hard to see on dark skin, but might feel rough or bumpy.
How long is rubella contagious?
A person with rubella may spread the disease to others up to one week before the rash appears, and remain contagious
up to 7 days after
. However, 25% to 50% of people infected with rubella do not develop a rash or have any symptoms, but they still spread it to others.
What is the normal range of rubella IgG in pregnancy?
Results: Quantitative analysis of the IgG levels showed noticeable variability that ranged between
24-143 IU/ml
(average 94). One hundred and forty-five (91%) out of 160 women had rubella IgG levels of above 50 IU/ml with a range of 54-143 IU/ml (average 92) while 15 (9%) had a level between 24-46 IU/ml (average 38).
How long does rubella stay in your system?
The rubella rash usually
lasts 3 days
. Lymph nodes may be swollen for a week or more, and joint pain can last for more than 2 weeks.
What level is rubella immune?
The Rubella Subcommittee of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards has proposed lowering the breakpoint to define rubella immunity from
15 to 10 IU/mL
. This recommendation stems from epidemiologic studies on vaccinated persons with low levels of antibody and anecdotal reports.
How do you treat rubella in pregnancy?
In many cases, the symptoms of the disease are mild. Staying in bed (bed rest), drinking fluids and taking medicines to reduce fever can help. Pregnant people with rubella may be treated with
acetaminophen
to relieve their symptoms. In more serious cases, treatment may include blood transfusion or steroids.
What does it mean if IgG is positive?
The presence of IgG suggests that the infection happened weeks to months in the past. It also suggests that you may no longer be infectious. IgG indicates that
you may have some immunity to the virus, though you may not
.
Do I need rubella vaccine before pregnancy?
Rubella infection during pregnancy can cause serious health problems for your baby. If you are not already vaccinated against rubella,
you should be vaccinated before you get pregnant
. Visit the Rubella immunisation service page for information on receiving the rubella vaccine.
