Rubella

To diagnose rubella, your healthcare provider will give you a physical exam and look at your rash if you have one. They might test your blood, pee (urine) or mucus from your nose or throat for signs of rubella.

What tests are used to diagnose rubella?

Tests used to diagnose rubella include:

• Blood tests. Your provider will take a sample of blood from your arm with a small needle. They’ll look for antibodies to rubella, which would show that you’re either currently sick, have had rubella before or are vaccinated against rubella.
• Nasal or throat swabs. Your provider will use a soft-tipped stick (swab) to get a sample from your nose or throat. A lab will test the sample for signs of rubella.
• Urine tests. You’ll pee in a sterile cup. A lab will test your pee (urine) for signs of rubella.

What does it mean if my rubella test is positive?

If your nose, throat or pee is tested and comes back positive, it means you’re currently infected with rubella. If your rubella blood test is positive, it means you have antibodies to rubella. Antibodies are special proteins that know how to identify specific invaders, like viruses and bacteria.

If you test positive when you’re not sick, having antibodies means you were sick with rubella before or received a vaccination for it. You’re likely to be immune to rubella if you have antibodies to it — in other words, your immune system knows how to destroy it before you get sick.