Serological assessment of rubella during pregnancy

Abstract

In 45 patients with rubella-like illnesses during pregnancy serological tests showed that the clinical diagnosis had been accurate in only 20. Since only 16 of these patients had presented for laboratory investigations within a week of the onset of symptoms, the value of haemagglutination-inhibition tests was considerably reduced; the diagnosis in these cases was confirmed by complement-fixation and rubella-specific IgM tests.Of 172 patients exposed to a rubella-like illness, only 17 were seronegative; 105 sought advice within two weeks of exposure, and therefore the haemagglutination-inhibition antibody tests were useful in determining immunity. Since the clinical diagnosis of rubella was proved incorrect in a number of cases, these pregnancies were saved. Hence both doctors and patients should report both exposure to and rubella-like illnesses as early as possible, so that laboratory investigations may be carried out without delay.