The Rubella IG Antibody is a protein found in the blood of someone who has previously had the rubella or been vaccinated for rubella. It is produced by the immune system as a result of infection by the rubella virus or immunization. The antibody is contained in the rubella vaccination, which forms part of the combined vaccination for measles, mumps, and rubella. This antibody protects the body from infection by destroying the rubella antigen.
The Rubella IG antibody is one of two types of antibody that can be found in the blood due to rubella infection, the other being the rubella IgM antibody. Rubella IgM is the first antibody to be found in the blood after exposure and disappears gradually over time whereas the rubella IgG antibody takes longer to detect but remains in the blood for life. Presence of the rubella IG antibody in a patient means that they have been infected recently or in the past or that they were vaccinated against rubella. Testing for rubella IG antibodies is performed by a blood test. The test is most typically ordered for women prior to pregnancy to confirm immunity and prevent passing rubella infection in utero, which can cause serious birth defects, miscarriages, and stillbirths.
Share this Term
Subscribe to the Workplace Testing Newsletter
Join thousands of employment testing and employee wellness professionals.
Latest Articles
