Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant Assay (ELISA) - IgG
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Requisition Forms
Reference Details
Detection of IgG antibodies to the rubella virus by enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA)*, including measurement of IgG titres.
- Rubella (German measles)
- Congenital rubella syndrome
- Congenital rubella infection
Serum or plasma (100 µL minimum) collected as soon as possible after rash onset. For seroconversion, or determination of a change in IgG titre, submit acute and convalescent sera. Acute serum should be collected immediately upon disease onset (within the first 7 days) and convalescent serum should be collected 10 to 21 days later.
Collect blood in serum separator tubes (SST) or EDTA tubes.
Follow standard laboratory techniques to prepare serum or plasma. Store at 4°C and ship at room temperature or on wet ice for arrival at the NML within 3 days of collection. Otherwise, freeze (-20°C or below) and ship frozen on dry ice.
Shipping of specimens shall be done by a TDG certified individual in accordance with TDG regulations. For additional information regarding classification of specimens for the purposes of shipping, consult either Part 2 Appendix 3 of the TDG Regulations or section 3.6.2 of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations as applicable.
- Patient with rubella IgM positive serology result, recent rubella vaccination, or recent contact with laboratory confirmed case of rubella.
- For seroconversion: suspected rubella case without an RT-PCR result and a negative or unreliable IgM result.
Completed Measles, Mumps, and Rubella requisition form. Include date of rash onset, date of fever onset, date of last rubella vaccination, travel history, date of rubella exposure and/or MARS identifier (from the Measles and Rubella Surveillance application on CNPHI) or case number, as applicable.
Please contact the lab in advance of sending samples for testing. The NML is a WHO/PAHO accredited Measles and Rubella Regional Reference Laboratory. In order to assist in case classification, the NML might also perform confirmatory rubella IgM ELISA as well as rubella IgG avidity ELISA.
Testing is done using a commercial ELISA assay. A four-fold rise in IgG titre or seroconversion (i.e. a negative and a positive result in acute and convalescent sera respectively) is indicative of infection.
21 calendar days. Turnaround time can be as short as 3 calendar days, with proper notification.
- Dimech W, Panagiotopoulos L, Francis B, Laven N, Marler J, Dickeson D, Panayotou T, Wilson K, Wootten R, Dax EM. Evaluation of eight anti-rubella virus immunoglobulin g immunoassays that report results in international units per milliliter. J Clin Microbiol. 2008; 46(6):1955-60.
- World Health Organization. Manual for the laboratory diagnosis of measles and rubella virus infection. Third edition. 2018. Available at https://www.technet-21.org/en/topics/laboratory-measles-rubella-manual