Mumps IgM serology - serum specimen
- LIS Mnemonic: MUMPIGM
Collect
Gold (SST - Clot activator & gel)
Volume Required
1 ml Serum
Minimum Required
0.5 ml Serum
Transport
Keep specimen at 4C
Processing
Allow serum to clot completely at room temperature. Separate serum from cells ASAP.
Unacceptable conditions
Severely lipemic, icteric, hemolyzed, heat-inactivated, or contaminated samples.
Days Performed
Mon, Wed, Fri
Reported
1-3 days
Reflex Testing
N/A
CPT
86735
Methodology
Enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA)
Disease Information
Clinical Features:
Following an incubation period of 14-18 days, mumps begins with a nonspecific prodrome of low-grade fever, headache, respiratory symptoms, malaise, and myalgia. Most common feature is swelling of salivary glands in 30-40%, particularly the parotid glands. Swelling is usually bilateral; unilateral in 25% of cases. Severe illness with complications more likely in adults. The virus is transmitted from person to person through respiratory secretions and is quite contagious. Greatest communicability is 1-2 days before to 5 days after onset of parotid gland swelling. Illness lasts a week to 10 days. Complications include orchitis in 20-30% of infected postpubescent males, oophoritis and mastitis in 5% of postpubertal females; sterility and impaired fertility are uncommon. Mumps can also be complicated by meningitis and encephalitis.
Utility:
Clinical diagnosis of mumps is unreliable; requires laboratory confirmation. Although once a common disease in children, fewer physicians now recognize the clinical features of mumps. Also, many viruses, including parainfluenza virus, enteroviruses, EBV, CMV, HIV, and influenza virus, can cause acute parotitis. Outbreaks of mumps still occur in the United States despite high coverage rates with vaccine. The disease is normally imported from abroad or associated with importation from other countries and outbreaks arise in people who have not been immunized and as a result of two-dose vaccine failure. Therefore, both unvaccinated and vaccinated persons are at risk for acquiring mumps themselves and transmitting the virus to others. Living in closed communities in crowded conditions is a contributing factor in the spread of the virus.
Interpretation
If positive, results are reported as mumps virus IgM antibody detected.
Reference Values
Negative or no mumps virus IgM antibody detected
Remarks
Detection of viral-specific IgM in a single serum sample or demonstration of a seroconversion from a negative to a positive IgG antibody response between acute and convalescent sera collected 2-3 weeks apart can be diagnostic of recent or current mumps infection. Detection of virus-specific IgG in a single serum specimen indicates exposure to mumps virus some time in the past or a response to vaccination. Negative antibody titers may exclude mumps virus infection. IgM positivity to mumps virus decreases rapidly from 4-5 weeks after onset of parotitis and can decline earlier in previously immunized patients.
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