Rubella antibody tests in family planning clinics

Abstract

Women attending for family planning advice at area health authority and general practitioner clinics were offered a test of rubella antibody status. The acceptance rate was approximately 50 per cent. Of the 100 women tested, 15 were not immune and 8 of these were subsequently vaccinated. In this study, the cost of the service was estimated to be 1-50 pounds per woman, or approximately 5000 pounds to prevent one case of congenital rubella. On this basis the assessment of rubella immunity in women using reliable contraception is considered to be feasible and could prove even more worthwhile on a cost-benefit basis if applied to an entirely nulliparous group.