Rubella-Specific IgM Antibody Response in University Students after Vaccination with TCRB 19 Strain Rubella Vaccine

Twenty university students regarded as seronegative by haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test were given a rubella vaccine. The persistence of HI and IgM antibodies were measured in serum samples taken up to a year after vaccination. The results obtained were as follows; 1) HI antibodies were detected in all of 20 vaccinees (100%) 6 weeks after vaccination and responded with increases in geometric mean (GM) titers of 1: 34.3. These titers were maintained one year later. 2) The results of IgM obtained by solid-phase attachment red cell (SPARC) method were better than those obtained by the sucrose density gradient centrifugation (SDGC)-HI and enzyme immunoassay (EIA) techniques. 3) Rubella-specific IgM measured by SPARC method showed the highest positive rate, 13 of 20 vaccinees (65%), 6 weeks after vaccination and responded with increases in GM titers of 1: 3300. Although at low levels, rubella-specific IgM were present in 3 of the 19 (15.8%) at 52 weeks. 4) From 3 weeks to 52 weeks after vaccination, a correlation of r=0.75 was revealed between the IgM values obtained by both SPARC and EIA methods. 5) The present studies showed no correlation between side effects and higher HI antibody response or prolonged IgM response.