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Measles swab (PCR test) – mouth or throat - for diagnosing measles infection

Microbiology

Notes

  • The information given here is intended for use by healthcare professionals. Please see Lab Tests Online-UK for more general advice, links and background.
  • For suspected cases in hospital inpatients please inform the Infection Prevention and Control Team as soon as possible and ensure that the patient is isolated until the diagnosis is clarified.
  • Please note: Measles is a notifiable disease. Click for Notifiable Diseases notification form.
  • All suspected cases of measles should be discussed urgently with the UKHSA Health Protection Team – diagnosis can also be confirmed by taking and testing a MMR oral fluid test; kits are available from the UKHSA Health Protection Team – telephone the HPT to discuss the case and to arrange oral fluid test kit testing (0300 303 8162).
  • Instructions for obtaining, taking and testing a MMR oral fluid test can be found at MMR oral fluid test; Please note that these kits are not available from the Microbiology / Serology Department.
  • Measles PCR is the preferred and optimal test for diagnosing current measles. This is the preferred test for hospital inpatients and should also be strongly considered in non-hospitalised patients.
  • Measles PCR testing is performed on throat or mouth viral swabs.
  • PCR can also be performed on a nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA).
  • Throat swabs, mouth swabs and NPAs can be used for PCR if collected within 6 days of the onset of rash.
  • Nose swabs and eye swabs are not suitable for measles testing.
  • An additional diagnostic test for current / recent measles infection is Measles Serology (acute infection diagnosis) which involves IgM testing on a blood sample. See  Measles serology (acute infection diagnosis) . This is recommended in all suspected cases of current / recent measles.
  • If you are doing diagnostic testing for suspected measles please contact the duty / on call Consultant Microbiologist urgently to make them aware of the patient and to discuss arrangements for testing.
  • For measles immunity testing , see Measles Immunity Testing (Serology).

Sample requirements

Viral swab

Check swab expiry date before use

(Date is in YYMMDD format).

Viral swab of throat or mouth.

A mouth swab should be collected by rubbing the swab along the gum line and then over the tongue.

Required information

  • Relevant clinical details.
  • Date of onset.
  • Details of any exposure to other suspected cases.
  • Vaccination history.
  • Also essential to know if MMR vaccination has been given very recently.
  • For hospital inpatients date of admission and date and time of isolation.

Storage/transport

Store at room temperature.

Transport as soon as possible at ambient temperature.

Turnaround time

This is a reference laboratory test so turnaround time is affected by time to transport the sample from the clinical area to the GRH Microbiology Laboratory and time to transport the sample to the testing laboratory, and the turnaround time of the testing laboratory.

Turnaround time is up to 3 days.

The testing laboratory is Bristol UKHSA Virology Laboratory (Southmead Hospital).

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