Rubella, IgG antibodies

Why this test?

To test immunity to the rubella virus.

To detect infections, including those transferred in the past.

To identify those who have never been exposed to the virus and those who have not been vaccinated.

To make sure that pregnant women (or those who are planning to become pregnant) have enough antibodies against rubella to protect against infection.

In what cases is it prescribed?

When planning or maintaining a pregnancy.

If a check of immunity against rubella is necessary.

When a pregnant woman develops fever and a rash and/or other symptoms of rubella. Since many diseases cause similar symptoms, the doctor should prescribe those tests that will help confirm this particular diagnosis.

If the baby has congenital malformations (hearing loss, cardiovascular disorders, cataracts, diseases of the central nervous system) that may be associated with SVC, or if his mother was diagnosed with rubella during pregnancy.

Because it takes some time for IgG antibodies to rubella to develop after infection, your doctor may order tests again in 2-3 weeks to see if antibodies show up (if they were absent initially) or to assess whether their levels rise or fall over time.

Test information

This analysis allows you to detect rubella antibodies in the blood. They are produced in response to virus infection. There are two types of antibodies: IgM and IgG. The production of IgG antibodies takes a little longer than IgM antibodies, but once it occurs, the antibodies remain in the blood for life, protecting the person from re-infection. The presence of IgG antibodies may indicate that you have already had rubella or that the rubella vaccine provides the necessary protection.

Rubella is spread through the air and usually presents mildly as a small red rash that appears on the face and neck and then spreads down the trunk and limbs before disappearing after a few days, although symptoms such as fever, increased lymph nodes, runny nose, red eyes and joint pain.

However, in most patients rubella passes within a few days without any special treatment and does not cause further health problems.

The main danger is the contact of a pregnant woman with the rubella virus for the first time during the first trimester of pregnancy - the developing fetus is most vulnerable to rubella at this time. If the virus is transmitted from the mother to the fetus, it can cause miscarriage, stillbirth and/or the development of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) - a group of serious developmental defects that can cause developmental delay, mental retardation, deafness, cataracts, microcephaly, liver problems and heart defects.