DETERMINATION OF MEASLES, MUMPS, AND RUBELLA IMMUNIZATION STATUS USING ORAL FLUID SAMPLES

Objective.-To determine if oral fluid samples can be used to reliably assess protective blood levels of antibodies to measles, mumps, and rubella. Design.-A comparison of matched serum and oral fluid samples from asymptomatic subjects in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for measles, mumps, and rubella antibodies. A longitudinal study compared matched serum and oral fluid samples from 11 subjects after measles-mumps-rubella vaccination. Setting.-Five US clinical sites with samples tested at the reporting laboratory. Participants.-A total of 157 asymptomatic subjects including 55 subjects younger than 18 years. Main Outcome Measures and Results.-The presence of antibodies in oral fluid specimens correlated with that in serum with the following levels of sensitivity and specificity: measles, 97% and 100%, respectively; mumps, 94% and 94%, respectively; rubella, 98% and 98%, respectively. Longitudinal studies of subjects after vaccination showed similar seroconversion profiles in oral fluid and serum samples. Conclusion.-Protective blood levels of antibodies to measles, mumps, and rubella can be assessed by means of an oral fluid sample with good reliability.