Measles Blood Test - More Information

The measles titer, also known as a measles test or a rubeola titer test, checks the measles antibody blood level. The measles blood titer is an important test required by healthcare organizations and schools to prove immunity to measles.

The measles titer test checks for the presence of IgG antibodies to measles in the blood. Measles IgG antibodies are made by the immune system if one has been exposed to measles in the past (either by prior vaccination or an actual measles infection). One is considered "immune" to measles if one has an adequate level of measles IgG antibodies measurable through a measles blood test. In the United States, most people will have received the mumps, measles and rubella (MMR) vaccine series as part of their routine childhood vaccines which typically confers immunity to measles. Through Accesa Labs, people can order a measles titer online, get tested at a local lab, and get results electronically, typically in 4 business days or less.

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Who Should Get a Measles Titer?

Healthcare workers and students in clinical settings. Nurses, physicians, medical assistants, and other healthcare staff are typically required to provide documentation of measles immunity as a condition of employment or clinical placement. Measles is particularly dangerous in healthcare settings because patients with compromised immune systems may be severely affected. Most employers require the measles titer as part of a broader MMR compliance package.

Vendor credentialing compliance. Medical device representatives, pharmaceutical sales representatives, and other vendors requiring hospital access must typically document measles immunity through credentialing platforms. The standard PDF results report provided by Accesa Labs is accepted by all major credentialing platforms.

College and university students. Most U.S. colleges and universities require MMR immunity documentation for enrollment. The measles component is the most commonly required of the three. A measles titer may be ordered individually when a student has prior documentation of mumps and rubella immunity but needs to establish measles status specifically.

Adults with uncertain vaccination history. Adults who grew up before electronic health records were standard, who were vaccinated outside the United States, or who simply cannot locate their childhood vaccination records might order a measles titer to confirm whether immunity is present before assuming revaccination is needed.

Adults concerned about the 2024–2025 measles outbreaks. Adults who received only one dose of the MMR vaccine or who received the original inactivated measles vaccine administered between 1963 and 1967 may not have durable measles immunity. A measles titer provides information about one's current immune status.

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Measles Titer vs. MMR Titer - Which Should I Order?

Most patients who need to document measles immunity for healthcare, school, or vendor credentialing compliance should order the MMR titer rather than the individual measles titer - because most compliance programs require documentation of measles, mumps, and rubella immunity together, not just one component. The MMR titer also costs less than ordering all three individual titers separately and is completed from a single blood draw.

The individual measles titer is the better choice when:

• A prior MMR titer returned positive for mumps and rubella but negative or equivocal for measles
• A compliance organization requires a standalone measles titer result rather than a combined MMR panel
• A patient already has documented mumps and rubella immunity on file and only needs to establish measles status

If you are unsure whether to order the measles titer or the full MMR titer, the MMR titer is the right choice for most first-time testers.

Why is proving immunity through a measles titer needed by a school or employer? There are a few reasons. First, if a healthy person in one of those environments encounters someone who has the measles, the healthy person can easily be exposed to it. If none of the health people around have immunity, the measles infection could easily spread from person to person and cause a large measles outbreak. Given that a measles vaccine exist, most facilities believe that it is easier to limit a measles outbreak by making sure that people studying or working in a higher risk setting have immunity to the measles to prevent rapid person-to-person spread. While vaccination does not usually confer lifelong immunity, the blood titer is appealing because most people who have received the vaccine will still have immunity that can be detected on the measles IgG lab test for twenty years or more. The measles titer is frequently required in addition to a mumps titer and a rubella titer and the three titers together are sometimes referred to as an MMR titer.

Getting a Measles Titer

Getting a measles titer near you is a straightforward process. After ordering online, simply visit your selected lab location for a brief blood draw - no appointment or fasting required. Results are typically available within 4 business days. The measles titer is frequently ordered alongside the hepatitis B titer, the varicella titer, and the QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus blood test to meet compliance requirements in a single visit.

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Measles Titer Results - Interpretation

Our measles titer is a quantitative measles IgG blood test. In other words, the measles antibody level will be reported as a numerical value which is considered the gold standard. To evaluate a measles lab report, one simply compares their measles IgG antibody result against the reference range provided in the measles lab report to determine whether measles immunity is present. In the sample report we have provided, the measles antibody result reported is 3.30 and a positive result is considered to be a level > or = 1.10, thereby suggesting measles immunity. If the measles antibody level was in the negative or equivocal ranges, it would suggest that the person is not immune to measles. Because an isolated measles vaccine no longer exists in the US, this person would need to receive the combination vaccine series again.

Measles - More Information

Measles is an infection caused by the measles virus (Morbillivirus) and is one of the most contagious infectious diseases known. Symptoms of a measles infection include high fevers, cough, runny nose, eye irritation and a characteristic rash (traditionally known as "cough, coryza and conjunctivitis"). Highly contagious, measles is easily transmitted through droplet exposure from an infected person. Once infected, symptoms of a measles infection typically start one week after the exposure and continue for up to two weeks. A person infected with measles can transmit the virus to approximately 9 out of 10 susceptible contacts in close settings. The virus can remain airborne in a room for up to two hours after an infected person has left. Measles cases in the United States increased significantly in 2024 and 2025, with outbreaks reported across multiple states. These outbreaks renewed attention to measles immunity verification among adults.

For healthcare workers, school staff, and others working in high-exposure settings, confirmed measles immunity through a blood titer is the most reliable way to establish protection. The measles titer is a good way to check for measles immunity for anyone who has been previously vaccinated or infected with the measles virus. The measles vaccine was developed in the early 1960s to help prevent this contagious infection and led to a drastic drop in measles cases. With widespread measles vaccination programs, some measles antibodies transmission has been observed from mother to baby. In the early 1970s, the measles vaccine was combined with the mumps and rubella vaccines to form the MMR vaccine so that all the vaccines could be administered together. Over time, this combined vaccine containing measles was incorporated into routine vaccine schedules and most people in the United States who underwent traditional wellness medical exams as a child will have received the measles vaccine as part of their childhood vaccines. According to the World Health Organization measles deaths have dropped over 70% from 2000-2015 with the implementation of worldwide vaccination programs. Vigilance is required, however, as measles titers do seem to decay over time.

There is no cure for a measles infection other than supportive care (e.g. oral rehydration) and treatment of any secondary complications that occur. Complications from a measles infection frequently occur and are more severe in people with weak immune systems, infants and the elderly. A positive measles titer is a widely accepted measure of measles immunity and avoids the need for additional MMR vaccinations.