IgM measles virus antibodies

Measles IgM antibodies

Clinical significance

Measles - an infectious disease caused by a virus of the Paramyxoviridae family. The disease is spread by the airborne and droplet route and is characterized by fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis, rash on the buccal mucosa (Koplik's spots), and the typical diffuse maculopapular skin rash (vesicular rash). Among the complications in the course of measles may be bacterial superinfection, thrombocytopenic diathesis, meningitis. Determination of IgM antibodies serves to confirm the incidence of measles. In unvaccinated people, IgM antibodies appear up to 4 days after the onset of measles, reaching a maximum concentration in 7 days. The antibodies disappear within 6-8 weeks. In vaccinated individuals, IgM antibodies may be negative with positive IgG antibodies. In the case of repeated negative IgM results in such patients, the basis for diagnosis is a significant increase in IgG antibodies or the presence of viral RNA in the examined material.

Patient preparation

No preparation required

Material: Serum