If you suspect that you or your child has rubella, phone your GP surgery, or call NHS Direct on 0845 4647 straight away for advice.
Do not visit your GP surgery without calling them first. If you do, you will put any pregnant women who may be there at risk of catching the rubella infection.
Your GP should be able to arrange a time for you to visit that won't put other people at risk. Or they may come out to visit you or your child.
You should keep your child away from school (or yourself away from work) until you have seen your GP.
Your GP may suspect that you have rubella from your symptoms, but other viral infections often have similar symptoms, so a blood test is the only way to confirm a diagnosis.
Blood test
A sample of blood will be taken from a vein in your arm and tested for certain antibodies.
Antibodies are proteins that your body produces to destroy disease-carrying organisms and toxins. If you have rubella or you have had it in the past, your blood will test positive for certain antibodies, which are listed below.
- The IgM antibody will be present if you have a new rubella infection.
- The IgG antibody will be present if you have had the rubella infection in the past, or you have been immunised against it.
- If neither antibody is present, you do not have rubella and you have not been immunised against it.
Diagnosis in pregnant women
If you are pregnant and have some of the symptoms of rubella, your GP may want to test you for the infection to rule it out early on.
This is because of the risk of birth defects developing if rubella infection occurs in early pregnancy.
You should see your GP if you have had face-to-face contact with someone who has rubella, or if you have spent more than 15 minutes in the same room as someone who has rubella. If you have not previously been immunised against the infection, your GP may wish to do further tests.
If testing shows that you have rubella you will be referred to a doctor who specialises in conditions that can affect unborn babies (an obstetrician).
The obstetrician will use tests such as an ultrasound scan and amniocentesis to check if your baby does have congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). They may be able to determine the type and extent of the birth defects they may be born with.
You will also be offered counselling so you can make an informed decision about whether you wish to proceed with the pregnancy.
