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of Nebraskans through diagnostic laboratory
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Testing Results
IMPORTANT! Pre-approval needed from state or local health department. Local or State Health Department. Send approval to NPHL@unmc.edu or call (402) 559-9444.

NPHL has moved to an electronic ordering system, NUlirt, and it is now the preferred method to order all tests. Once ordered, print a "batch list" (see NUlirt Guide).

Forms Required - Nulirt batch list or NPHL Test Request Form (completed in entirety) must accompany the specimen to include the following information: symptoms and date of onset, pregnancy status, travel and vaccine history. Testing will not be performed without all required information.

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  Test: Measles Virus Antibody, IgG  
  Synonym: Measles Virus Titer, Rubeola IgG Antibody (Measles) 
  Method: Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay  
  Availability: Test performed weekly on Mondays for specimens received by 0800; results on same day.  
  Specimen: Blood  
  Collection Device: One 6.0 mL SST (Gold) tube or one 6.0 mL Clot (Red) tube  
  Volume: 0.5 - 2.0 mL serum  
  Storage/Transport: Separate serum ASAP and transfer to clean tube. Refrigerate at 2-8°C. Sender should contact the NPHL by email or phone before shipping. Ship specimen Monday -Thursday overnight to avoid weekend deliveries. Refrigerated specimen should be shipped on cold packs. Package and ship as Category B, Biological Substance, UN3373. See instructions and shipping address at http://nphl.org/  
  Unacceptable: Severely lipemic, icteric or hemolyzed samples; heat-activated serum; multiple freeze thaw cycles, specimens stored at ≤ 40°C  
  Specimen Stability: After separation from cells: ambient, < 8 hours; refrigerated (2-8°C), 72 hours; frozen (≥ -40°C), 1 year  
  Reference Interval: NEGATIVE: No detectable measles IgG antibody.

EQUIVOCAL: Borderline levels of IgG antibody to measles virus. (Repeat testing in 10-14 days is recommended).

POSITIVE: Measles virus IgG antibody detected.  
  Reportable Disease: A four-fold rise in titer between the acute and convalescent sera is reportable (see comment). 
  Comments: Confirmation of Measles by detection of IgG antibody levels requires testing of paired sera. Acute and convalescent sera with index values of < 0.75 and > 0.99, respectively, have been shown to represent a ≥ 4-fold increase in titer. In cases where an acute serum index value is > 0.75, a 3.2 fold increase in index ratio (convalescent serum IV / acute serum IV) is indicative of a significant antibody increase. Index ratios between 1.5 and 2.1 are considered equivocal and submission of a new convalescent serum after two weeks is recommended. For additional interpretive information, contact the laboratory. When paired testing is considered, convalescent specimens must be received within 30 days from receipt of acute specimens. A positive result is indicative of current or past infection and in the absences of current clinical symptoms, may also indicate immunity. Testing performed at CDC.

Pre-Approval needed from state or local health department. Send approval to NPHL@unmc.edu or call (402) 559-9444
  Revised: 2/24/2015 

 

If you have questions about proper specimen collection, please call NPHL Client Services at (402) 559-2440 or toll free at (866) 290-1406.

 


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