Why should I take the test?💡 

Rubella is a contagious disease that spreads through droplets in the air when people cough or sneeze. It typically begins with rash, swollen glands and fever. Although rubella has been eradicated due to widespread vaccination with measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, if you're unvaccinated, you are prone to be infected.

If you catch the virus during pregnancy, you can transfer the virus to your baby through the bloodstream. If you catch rubella within the first 11 weeks of pregnancy, the baby is likely to have congenital rubella syndrome. If you are infected after week 16, the baby is considered safe from the virus.  

Unfortunately, no treatment is available to prevent the baby from catching rubella if you're infected. Vaccination can only provide protection before you're infected, but once the virus is present in your bloodstream, it is too late to be vaccinated. 

How is the test done?💉 

The rubella antibody screening determines prior protection and assesses immunity to rubella virus. Testing requires a sample of blood, urine, or a nasal or throat swab.

During a blood draw test, a needle is injected into a vein in your arm while an elastic band is placed around the upper part of your arm to increase blood flow. The area where the needle is inserted is cleaned with antiseptic. Then, a test tube or vial attached to the needle is there to collect the blood.  

During a rubella test that requires a nose or throat swab, a cotton swab is inserted into nostrils or the throat to collect samples. You may experience some discomfort or watery eyes during the procedure. Then they are stored in a tube for analysis. 

During a rubella test that asks you for a urine sample, you will need to provide a sample in a cup for analysis. 

TMI from Baby Billy👩‍⚕️: 

A rubella antibody screening checks for the level of antibodies to see if you have been vaccinated. There are several types of rubella antibody tests. 

Immunoglobulin M antibody test: IgM develops as soon as 4 days after the symptoms start to kick in when you are first infected with rubella virus. IgM is detectable for six to eight weeks or longer after infection.

Immunoglobulin G antibody test: IgG can be considered as a memory antibody which distinguishes between recent infections and immunity due to past infections and enhances the release of IgM antibody attacking the virus faster. IgG testing is also an accurate method to understand how well your body can fight against rubella. 

Nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT): uses reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method to identify genetic material of rubella virus present in a nasal swab, throat swab or a urine sample. The test is highly sensitive, can be done in a short period of time and requires minimal template for detection and amplification of a specific sequence. It detects and amplifies the DNA and RNA sequences of the virus despite the small quantity of the virus.