Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 10, 2026
A Rapid, Multiplex Dual Reporter IgG and IgM SARS-CoV-2 Neutralization Assay for a Multiplexed Bead-Based Flow Analysis System
Published on: April 6, 2021
Comparative detection of measles and rubella IgM and IgG derived from filter paper blood and serum samples
R F Helfand1, H L Keyserling, I Williams
1Respiratory and Enteric Viruses Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. rhelfand@cdc.gov
Insights
Filter paper blood spots offer a reliable alternative to serum for detecting measles and rubella antibodies. This method shows high concordance, making it a promising option for serological testing.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Clinical Diagnostics
Background:
- Accurate serological testing for vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and rubella is crucial for monitoring immunity.
- Traditional methods often rely on serum, which can be challenging to collect and transport, especially in resource-limited settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of filter paper blood spots versus traditional serum samples for detecting measles- and rubella-specific IgM and IgG antibodies.
- To assess the concordance and correlation of results obtained from both specimen types using various immunoassay techniques.
Main Methods:
- Capillary blood was collected from children and adults into both microtainer tubes (for serum) and onto filter paper spots.
- Samples were tested for measles- and rubella-specific IgM and IgG antibodies using capture antibody enzyme immunoassays (EIA) and indirect EIAs.
- Concordance and correlation coefficients were calculated for results obtained from serum and filter paper specimens.
Main Results:
- High concordance rates were observed between serum and filter paper blood spots for all tested antibodies: measles IgM (98%), measles IgG (93%), rubella IgM (94%), and rubella IgG (93%).
- Excluding indeterminate samples further increased concordance to 96-100% across all assays.
- Strong correlation coefficients (0.77-0.99) indicated good agreement between the signal strengths from both specimen types.
Conclusions:
- Filter paper blood spots demonstrate high accuracy and reliability for detecting measles- and rubella-specific antibodies, comparable to serum.
- This method presents a viable and potentially more convenient alternative for serological surveillance and diagnostics.
- Further validation may support the widespread adoption of filter paper blood spots in routine measles and rubella antibody testing.
Abstract:
We compared the use of serum and filter paper blood spots as specimen sources for the detection of measles- and rubella-specific IgM and IgG. We collected capillary blood into microtainer tubes and onto filter paper spots from 60 children and 60 healthy adults. The blood was collected from 12-15-month-old children approximately 3 weeks after primary vaccination with measles, mumps, rubella vaccine, and the sample-pairs were tested for measles-specific IgM and IgG antibodies by using a capture antibody EIA and an indirect EIA, respectively. We tested sample-pairs from a subset of participants for rubella- specific IgM and IgG antibodies by using commercially available capture IgM (Captia) and indirect IgG (Wampole) assays. The concordance of results from serum and filter paper blood spots was high for all assays: 98% for measles IgM, 93% for measles IgG, 94% for rubella IgM, and 93% for rubella IgG, and increased to between 96-100% for all four assays when indeterminate samples were excluded. The correlation coefficients for EIA signals were 0.99 and 0.77 for measles IgM and IgG, respectively, and 0.92 and 0.94 for rubella IgM and IgG, respectively. The cut-off values used for filter paper samples were the same as those used for serum samples for all tests except for the rubella IgM assay. The use of filter paper blood spots is a promising future option for the detection of measles- and rubella-specific antibodies.
