title: Detection of IgM antibodies against rubella virus: comparison of two indirect ELISAs and an anti-IgM capture immunoassay.
abstract: A commercial antibody capture enzyme immunoassay (Rubenz M) was compared to two commercial indirect enzyme immunoassays (Enzygnost IgM, Rubazyme-M) for the detection of rubella-specific IgM. Five hundred and fifty-two sera collected between the day of onset and 272 days after the onset of the exanthem of primary rubella were tested. Rubenz M was more sensitive early and late after the onset of the exanthem than the two indirect ELISAs. Rubenz M also appeared more sensitive when 240 sera were examined from patients with possible rubella in pregnancy, reinfection in pregnancy, suspected intrauterine infection, and recent vaccination. However, 5.5% of 968 pregnant women with no history of rubellalike symptoms or recent vaccination, the majority with elevated HAI titers, gave a low-positive or borderline result with Rubenz M. None of these women delivered a congenitally infected child. Therefore, borderline and low-positive results must be interpreted with caution, as for any assay for rubella-specific IgM.
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor; D012409:Rubella / Q000175:diagnosis; D012412:Rubella virus / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor