Confused about result of DS's measles swab

[TotalChaos]

I have had the message relayed from GP via receptionist that Ds is immune to measles - but they don't know whether he has actually had measles or not. (background - DS had first MMR, then had suspected measles in December. Swab was done within the correct timeframe). Could somebody please explain whether DS is likely to have had measles with that result, or just have immunity via 1st MMR.

Can't tell from that result. both woiuld give the same result. sorry.

as long as he's got immunity, why does it matter??

Ring your GP and ask to speak to them/get them to call you back??

It matters slightly to me, as DS has been picking up lots of bugs recently, and if he had very recently had measles, that would be an obvious explanation. Also I would have thought it relevant to the powers that be, in terms of having correct stats for notified cases of measles.

thanks for the reply, will see if GP is helpful.

It's possible that the GP will say that he couldn't have had measles because he had the MMR, though not necessarily true. It also matters because immunity through measles would mean absolutely no need for a second injection, whereas immunity through the initial injection would not.

Can you ask about the strain of measles that shows up?

I am very flaky on this. The vaccination contains an attenuated strain not wild measles . But is it possible to tell the difference in an immunity test?

I suppose these are questions you could ask.

There is another test that they can do to tell if it infection or vaccination (PCR), but AFAIK you cant tell from the swab.

Stuffit - DS is nearly 5, so later than pre-school booster age - would that make a difference to immunity? Thanks for the info stuffit and tigger, I'm a bit disappointed that the swab is such an incomplete test.

now I have some knowledgable ladies - how long after having measles should I leave it before DS has DTP booster?

ooops sorry, didn't mean to imply you weren't knowledgable cass, that came out all wrong

Not that knowledgeable

I know this: that the booster isn't a booster, it's the same injection given because it's now known that not only do not all children produce antibodies the first time, but also because the immunity given does wane.

So a possible scenario is that ds had initial but temporary immunity and that it waned sufficiently over three years to catch wild measles.

I'm like you I would want to know. If your ds has had wild measles (and I hope it wasn't too ghastly for him) then I would see it as a Good Thing it's over and done with without harm.

Sorry I can't help more.. now Tigger -- she does sound knowledgable!

oh DTP .. sorry

I'm the wrong person to ask on that as I didn't do it ..

It wasn't remotely ghastly - I was more concerned about whether anyone vulnerable might have been unwittingly infected than about DS! I had assumed that the scenario you suggested had occurred. but obviously the inconclusive test results have me doubtful.