Rubella abs. (IgM) (Serum (s))

In the case of an acute rubella infection, IgG- and IgM-specific antibodies occur at the same time; apart from mild fever and exanthema, lymph node enlargement develops, in particular at the back of the neck and behind the auricle.

In the first 16 weeks of pregnancy, an acute rubella infection almost always leads to an infection of the embryo partly causing severe damage. For this reason, women capable of bearing children who do not have two documented rubella virus vaccinations should get vaccination twice and women who have been vaccinated once should get a second vaccination (RKI Epidem. Bull. 32/2010). The vaccination with an attenuated live virus is well tolerated and is recommended during infancy as primary vaccination in the 11th to 14th month of life, as booster vaccination from the 15th month of life (usually a combined measles/mumps/rubella vaccine).

According to the maternity guidelines, the rubella immune status (rubella IgG antibodies or HAI) should be determined at the beginning of pregnancy.

With titers of < 1:32 in the HAI, an additional examination for rubella IgG antibodies is usually required and in the case of a suspected acute infection, also the test for IgM antibodies.

In unclear cases, the rubella IgG antibody avidity can be determined. A high IgG avidity in all probability rules out an acute infection in the last three months.

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