Health Care Provider Advisory – Mumps Testing

Please be reminded that mumps is not endemic in our area which means any initial new case would need to have been in contact with a person infected with mumps from outside of our catchment area (Kenora and Rainy River Districts). One confirmed case would be considered an outbreak.

There are currently no known cases of mumps in the catchment area of Northwestern Health Unit.

In terms of testing, PCR testing is the most definitive and efficient way to rule mumps in or out, while serology is ambiguous without additional steps; further information from Public Health Ontario Laboratory can be found on their website.

Preferred testing

• Buccal swab, throat swab, urine, or CSF for diagnostic PCR
  • Buccal swab can be taken up to 9 days from symptom onset: submit swab for Virus Culture in Multi Organism Transport Medium-Virus Culture Collection Kit
  • Viral throat swab can be taken up to 9 days from symptom onset; submit in Multi-Organism Transport Medium-Virus Culture Collection Kit
  • Urine sample can be collected up to 14 days following symptom onset; should be submitted in a sterile container
  • In cases of aseptic meningitis, CSF may be submitted in a sterile container
• Turn-around time for PCR testing is up to 5 days at the Public Health Lab, and the result is diagnostic for recent or current infection
• In order to increase the overall sensitivity of testing, all three specimens (buccal swab, throat swab and urine) should be submitted, as not all sites are positive at the same time.

Alternate testing

• Serum or plasma collection for mumps IgM and IgG using ELISA test kits may be used, however diagnostic testing requires both an acute sample, within 7 days after symptom onset, and a convalescent sample, at 7 to 10 days after the acute
• Non-reactive and indeterminate levels of both IgM and IgG antibodies may be observed in the acute stage of infection (possible false negative)
• History of mumps vaccine can complicate interpretation of serological results (possible false positive)
• Turn-around time for diagnostic serology is up to 5 days for each of the acute and convalescent samples, delaying diagnosis for at least 2 weeks

Actions required

• Notify Northwestern Health Unit if you suspect or diagnose mumps (can be reported online)
• Utilize preferred testing methods
• Establish patient’s recent travel history or exposure to known mumps case

Contact:
Donna Stanley, Manager Infectious Diseases
807-223-3301 ext. 3578
dstanley@nwhu.on.ca

Dr. Kit Young-Hoon, Medical Officer of Health
807-468-3147
807-468-7109 after hours