Clinical Significance

Rubella virus is the etiological agent of German measles, a commonly mild rash disease which occurs usually during childhood. It is spread by small droplets via the respiratory route. Postnatal acquired infection is seldom associated with complications. 

However, Rubella can be a serious disease when a pregnant woman becomes infected especially during the first trimester of pregnancy. Rubella virus can be transmitted through the placenta and can result in fetal death or may cause severe malformations to the fetus, commonly summarized as congenital Rubella syndrome (CRS). CRS is an important cause of blindness, deafness, congenital heart disease and mental retardation. 

Today infant vaccination programs and the vaccination of women in child‑bearing age who are susceptible to Rubella infection have considerably reduced the incidence of acute Rubella infection and the incidence of CRS. 

The detection of Rubella‑specific antibodies is used to determine the immune status of an individual and to aid in the diagnosis of acute Rubella infection. The presence of IgG antibodies to Rubella virus indicates a previous exposure either by vaccination or prior Rubella infection and is indicative of presumptive immunity. 

_{Source: Roche cobas Elecsys Rubella IgG method sheet, V 4.0 2022-11}