Determination of IgM antibodies to rubella virus

When it comes to family planning, there is a list of infections (TORCH) that must be ruled out before pregnancy, including rubella. Otherwise, there is a high risk of transplacental infection of the fetus. The list of complications depends on the trimester of the current pregnancy:

• I trimester - during this period, infection gives the most complications, because during this period all the main organs are laid. When rubella passes through the placenta into the fetus, it causes pathologies of the brain (at 3-11 weeks), heart (at 4-7 weeks), hearing, and eyes (at 7-13 weeks). The most unfavorable outcome is the onset of the unviability of the child.
• II and III trimesters - the development of heart defects, cataracts, pathologies of the liver, urinary organs. Even if no pathological changes are observed, children are often born underweight if their mothers have a rubella infection during pregnancy.

The rubella virus inhibits cell division, which slows down the physical development of the baby even after birth. The probability of death in the first year of life increases by 10%.

Your task as a future parent is to do everything to avoid such problems. It is in your power - sign up for a consultation at our fertility clinic in Ukraine. The specialist will prescribe a test and take the necessary measures if you have IgM antibodies to rubella.

Of course, the main indication for laboratory tests is a planned pregnancy. But there are other cases when analysis for rubella IgM antibodies is required:

• Current pregnancy in a patient without a history of rubella - then the analysis is recommended every 3 months.
• Pregnancy in a patient with obvious symptoms of infection: fever, swollen lymph nodes, inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes.
• immunodeficiency state.
• Suspicion of exacerbation of infection or primary infection.

There are cases when the analysis is re-assigned if the previous result gave a controversial value. Then the doctor observes the dynamics of the indicators to find out the nature of the course of the infection.

The result is obtained based on the positivity index - it shows the concentration of antibodies per milliliter of blood. There are three possible outcomes for this indicator:

• A value greater than 1.1 indicates a positive result, i.e. rubella antibodies are present in the blood. The infection is either in an acute stage or the result is a false positive. It is possible to prescribe a second analysis to clarify the presence of rubella IgM.
• A value between 0.9 and 1.1 is debatable, this range is called the "zone of uncertainty". In this case, you need to donate blood for antibodies again, after 14 days.
• A value less than 0.9 means the result is negative, that is, there are no antibodies. Either the patient was not infected, or the infection has been transferred for a long time.

It is not uncommon for an IgM antibody test to be given along with IgG to rule out a false-positive or false-negative result.

To find out the cost of services and sign up for analysis, leave a request on our website. The manager will invite you for a consultation, and the doctor will direct you to the necessary examinations.

Your comfort is a priority for us. You do not need to take anything for the analysis to determine antibodies to rubella IgM. Everything is based on our clinic. Leave your number on the site, and in a few minutes, you can make an appointment.

1. Camejo Leonor M, Mendez MD. Rubella. [Updated 2021 Aug 11]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan.
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3. Hübschen, J. M., et al. Challenges of measles and rubella laboratory diagnostic in the era of elimination. Clinical Microbiology and Infection 23.8 (2017): 511-515.
4. Беклеміщева, А. О., and А. Р. Вега. Краснуха у вагітних. Diss. Сумський державний університет, 2016.