Detection of Measles by PCR is the preferred and optimal test for diagnosing current measles.
Testing should be considered in patients with maculopapular rash who have been in contact with virus or no history of immunisation. Tests should be performed within 6 days of rash onset.
If you are doing diagnostic testing for suspected measles, please contact the duty Monday to Friday 09:00am to 05:00pm (0113 392 3962 Option 2) / on-call OOH (via switch board) Consultant Virologist urgently to make them aware of the patient and to discuss arrangements for testing.
Please note …
Measles is a notifiable disease. Clinicians should notify all suspected cases to the regional health protection team by telephone call as soon as reasonably practical and within 24 hours. Health Protection Teams may arrange for oral fluid test kits to be sent out for confirmation. This does not preclude the need for local measles PCR testing.
Measles PCR is not used for immune status – please see serology.
Tube
Red cap tube – COPAN UTM ‘for the collection and preservation of: virus, chlamydia, mycoplasma and ureaplasma’
OR
Green cap tube – VIROCULT MWE ‘virus specimen collection and transportation’
Please note …
Pink cap COPAN eSwab is not a preferred sample type as it has not been validated and can cause inhibition resulting in the need for repeat testing with no result or a delayed result.
Sample Type
Oral (buccal) swabs are the preferred sample type. Rub on the inside of cheek for 20 seconds.
Nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) or bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) can also be tested in immunocompromised patients who may not develop a rash but present with pneumonitis, when testing of a lower respiratory tract sample is advised.
Please note …
Blood is NOT a preferred sample type as the viraemic phase is short lived and can therefore be ‘not detected’ in acute measles.
ID
3651.
Availability
Monday – Saturday. Samples for same day testing must arrive before 09:30am.
Additional Information
Although rare, neonatal measles has been associated with a risk of sub-acute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) – for these cases send paired CSF and serum for intrathecal antibody testing.
Send to
Microbiology Department, Centre for Laboratory Medicine, St James’s University Hospital, Beckett Street, Leeds, LS9 7TF.
Collection Con
If delays occur, refrigerate at 2 to 8 degrees C.
IP Routine TAT
3 days.
GP Routine TAT
3 days.