Measles Vaccine Strain PCR | Minnesota Department of Health

Aliases

Rubeola, Vaccine typing

Test Name

Measles Vaccine Strain PCR

Test Code

MEVAPCR

Methodology

Real-time PCR

Overview/Supplementary

This test detects the vaccine strain of measles virus in clinical samples in patients who have received recent measles vaccination.

Turn Around Time

1-3 days

Specimen Requirements

Specimens in VTM (preferred medium), Balanced Salt Solution (BSS), Liquid Stuart's, M4, M5, Minimum essential medium (MEM), Sterile isotonic solutions, Sterile PBS, Sterile saline, or UTM: Throat swab (preferred source, up to 9 days post onset), Nasal swab, Nasal wash, Nasopharyngeal swab, or Nasopharyngeal wash

Specimens in a sterile container: Cerebrospinal fluid/CSF (if meningitis or encephalitis suspected), or Urine (if collected 5 or more days post onset, pair with throat swab)

Isolates: Viral culture isolate

Preferred volume: 3 mL

Minimum volume: 140 µL

Special Considerations

This test should only be requested if there is recent measles vaccination within 21 days of rash onset.

Vaccination history must be provided to request this test.

Contact Infectious Disease Epidemiology Prevention and Control at 651-201-5414 or 877-676-5414 for further information when requesting this test.

Transport/Stability

Store and ship at refrigeration (2°C to 8°C) temperature within 7 days of collection. Alternatively, ship frozen (≤0°C).

Interface/Codes