Mumps Virus Antibody (IgM)

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB12320759, Beaker: Mumps virus, Quest: 36565

Department

Send Outs

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect (preferred specimen): One Gold-top SST tube.

Also acceptable: One plain Red-top tube.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes then centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Transfer serum to plastic transport tube and maintain at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F) prior to transport.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 1.0 mL serum, at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F). (Minimum: 0.2 mL)

Rejection Criteria

• Hemolyzed specimens.
• Severely lipemic specimens.
• Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes then centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Transfer serum to plastic transport tube and maintain at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F) prior to transport.

Transport: 1.0 mL serum, room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F). (Minimum: 0.2 mL)

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 7 days
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 14 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 30 days

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Specimen retention time is determined by the policy of the reference laboratory. Contact the Send Outs Laboratory with any questions.

Laboratory

Sent to Quest Diagnostics, Wood Dale, IL.

Performed

Tuesday – Saturday.
Results available in 3 days.

Reference Range

Mumps Virus Antibody (IgM)

Titer	Interpretation
<1:20	Antibody not detected
≥1:20	Antibody detected

The presence of IgM antibody to mumps typically indicates recent or current mumps infection; however, false positive results may occur due to antibody cross reactivity to parainfluenza virus.

Test Methodology

Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA)

Interpretation

By report.

Clinical Utility

The clinical diagnosis of an acute infection may be supported by the demonstration of virus-specific IgM. Assays for IgM are more useful than IgG assays, since cross-reactions have not been observed. Positive IgM mumps antibody suggests infection within the past 2-3 months. For paired sample results, an acute result less than 1:10 and convalescent greater than 1:10, or a four-fold rise in titer, suggests a primary infection with mumps virus unless the individual has recently acquired passive antibody.

Clinical Disease

Once transmitted, the mumps virus can produce symptomatic and asymptomatic infections. Typical mumps is an acute, self-limiting disease characterized by bilateral or unilateral parotitis. However, mumps virus infections can sometimes cause meningoencephalitis, orchitis, ovaritis, pancreatitis, thyroiditis, or infections of the eye or inner ear. (1)

Epidemiology

Mumps is endemic throughout the world. Prior to licensing of the live attenuated mumps vaccine, epidemics occurred every 2-5 years with the peak incidence occurring from January through May. In the pre-vaccine era, more than 50% of cases occurred in the 5-to 9-year group and 90% of disease occurred in children under 14 years of age. Today, more than 50% of mumps cases occur in teenagers and young adults. (1)

Incubation Period

The incubation period is 16-18 days with a range of 2-4 weeks. Patients are infectious from 9 days prior, to 8 days after, the development of parotitis. Urine from mumps patients should be considered infectious for two weeks after onset of symptoms. (1)

Transmission

Mumps is transmitted by direct contact and through inhalation of infectious aerosols. In addition, the virus can be spread indirectly by autoinoculation of the nose or mouth after handling infected fomites, soiled handkerchiefs, or tissues. (1)

Reference

1. Wiedbrauk D, Johnston SLG. Manual of Clinical Virology, Raven Press, New York, NY, 1993.

CPT Codes

86735

Contacts

Last Updated

12/17/2025