Separate serum from cells ASAP or within 2 hours of collection. Transfer 0.5 mL serum to an ARUP standard transport tube. (Min: 0.3 mL) Parallel testing is preferred and convalescent specimens must be received within 30 days from receipt of the acute specimens. Mark specimens plainly as "acute" or "convalescent".
Unacceptable Conditions
Bacterially contaminated, heat-inactivated, hemolyzed, icteric, lipemic, or turbid specimens.
Storage/Transport Temperature
Refrigerated.
Stability (from collection to initiation)
After separation from cells: Ambient: 48 hours; Refrigerated: 2 weeks; Frozen: 1 month (avoid repeated freeze/thaw cycles)
Negative: No evidence of recent infection. False-negative results are possible if the specimen was collected too soon after exposure. Molecular testing may be helpful.
1:10 or greater
Positive: Indicative of recent primary measles infection. False-positive results are possible.
Separate serum from cells ASAP or within 2 hours of collection. Transfer 0.5 mL serum to an ARUP standard transport tube. (Min: 0.3 mL) Parallel testing is preferred and convalescent specimens must be received within 30 days from receipt of the acute specimens. Mark specimens plainly as "acute" or "convalescent".
Unacceptable Conditions
Bacterially contaminated, heat-inactivated, hemolyzed, icteric, lipemic, or turbid specimens.
Storage/Transport Temperature
Refrigerated.
Stability (from collection to initiation)
After separation from cells: Ambient: 48 hours; Refrigerated: 2 weeks; Frozen: 1 month (avoid repeated freeze/thaw cycles)
Negative: No evidence of recent infection. False-negative results are possible if the specimen was collected too soon after exposure. Molecular testing may be helpful.
1:10 or greater
Positive: Indicative of recent primary measles infection. False-positive results are possible.
Laboratories.