26655 Mumps Virus Antibody, IgM, Serum (MMPM)

​Mumps IgM

Mumps Serology​

​Mumps Ab, IgM

Index Value

​Laboratory diagnosis of mumps virus infection​

​Centrifuge and aliquot serum into plastic vial.

Gross hemolysis, gross lipemia and Heat-inactivated specimens

​Results must always be interpreted together with other clinical and laboratory findings.

 Serum specimens drawn during the acute phase of infection may be negative by serological tests.

 All positive results must be interpreted with care, as some false-positive results or heterotypical responses of the IgM have been seen in the serum of pregnant women or in patients with an acute infection caused by cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, measles, rubella, and parvovirus.

The mumps virus is a member of the Paramyxoviridae family of viruses, which include parainfluenza virus serotypes 1-4, measles, respiratory syncytial virus, and metapneumovirus. Mumps is highly infectious among unvaccinated individuals and is typically transmitted through inhalation of infected respiratory droplets or secretions. Following an approximately 2-week incubation period, symptom onset is typically acute with a prodrome of low-grade fever, headache, and malaise.(1,2) Painful enlargement of the salivary glands, the hallmark of mumps, occurs in approximately 60% to 70% of infections and in 95% of patients with symptoms. Testicular pain (orchitis) occurs in approximately 15% to 30% of postpubertal men and abdominal pain (oophoritis) is found in 5% of postpubertal women.(1) Other complications include mumps-associated pancreatitis (<5% of cases) and central nervous system disease (meningitis <10% and encephalitis <1%).

 Widespread routine immunization of infants with attenuated mumps virus has dramatically decreased the number of reported mumps cases in the United States. However, outbreaks continue to occur, indicating persistence of the virus in the general population.

 Laboratory diagnosis of mumps is typically accomplished by detection of IgM- and IgG-class antibodies to the mumps virus. However, due to the widespread mumps vaccination program, in clinically suspected cases of acute mumps infection, serologic testing should be supplemented with virus isolation in culture or detection of viral nucleic acid by polymerase chain reaction testing in throat, saliva, or urine specimens.

Negative: Index value 0.00-0.79

Reference value applies to all ages.

Positive:

Presence of IgM-class antibodies to mumps virus may support a clinical diagnosis of recent or acute phase infection with this virus.

 Negative:

Absence of IgM-class antibodies to mumps virus suggests lack of acute phase infection with mumps virus. However, serology may be negative in early disease, and results should be interpreted in the context of clinical findings.