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Measles: IgM and IgG antibodies to measles virus in blood
Last reviewed: 05.07.2025
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IgM antibodies to the measles virus are normally absent in the blood serum.
The causative agent of measles ( morbilla ) is classified as an RNA virus. Measles most often affects preschool-aged children. However, individuals who have not had measles remain highly susceptible to it throughout their lives and can become ill at any age. Rapid diagnostics of measles involves detection of antigens in cells of the nasopharyngeal discharge or skin (from rash elements) by immunofluorescence microscopy (fluorochrome-labeled measles IgG is used in the reaction). Additional confirmation of infection can be the detection of multinucleated cells in the nasopharyngeal discharge or smears-prints after staining according to Romanovsky-Giemsa or Pavlovsky. Antibodies to the measles causative agent are detected in the hemagglutination inhibition reaction (HI), RSC, RPGA and ELISA.
Serological methods of research are used to confirm the diagnosis of measles, especially latent, atypical forms. The most commonly used are RTGA and RSK. Specific diagnostics are retrospective, since these reactions take into account the increase in the antibody titer in paired sera. The first blood sample is taken no later than the 3rd day of the rash period, the second - after 10-14 days. The diagnosis is considered verified only if the antibody titer increases 4 times or more. When using the ELISA method, antibodies of the IgM and IgG classes are detected.
IgM antibodies to measles are detected in the acute period of infection (within 6 days after the rash appears - in 80%, after 7 days - in 95% of patients), they reach peak concentration after 2-3 weeks, last for 4 weeks and then gradually disappear (50% of patients become seronegative after 4 months). IgG antibodies to measles appear during the convalescence period and persist in those who have recovered for up to 10 years. Detection of IgG antibodies at the end of the acute period of the disease is a prognostically favorable sign. Detection of IgM antibodies in the blood serum or an increase in the level of IgG antibodies in paired sera by more than 4 times indicates a current infection. False positive results of IgM antibody determination can be obtained in chronic active hepatitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, infectious mononucleosis.
Determination of the IgG antibody titer to measles is used for retrospective diagnosis of measles and assessment of the intensity of measles immunity.
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