What labs should be obtained?
• For diagnosis of mumps, done at UHL at no charge: • For checking immunity for mumps, done at private reference labs. UHL is focusing on patient diagnostic testing: << Mumps information page Can you explain the serologic testing? Person with mumps-like symptoms: Laboratory specimens should be collected and sent to UHL. UHL is recommending obtaining all three types of specimens (serology IgM & IgG via blood specimen, saliva and urine for mumps virus isolation). A positive IgM test result indicates current/very recent infection. In the symptomatic person, IgG is not diagnostic unless you obtain both an acute (can be done as soon after onset as the patient is seen, but ideally four to five days after onset of symptoms) and convalescent (from two to four weeks after onset) blood specimen for serologic tests to determine if a four-fold rise has occurred (e.g., from 1:40 to 1:320). As with any disease, lab work should be used in conjunction with clinical presentation (signs and symptoms), a
