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MMR oral fluid testing instructions for health protection teams

Updated 25 November 2024

Applies to England

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/measles-mumps-and-rubella-mmr-letter-for-parents-and-form-for-oral-fluid-swab/mmr-oral-fluid-testing-instructions-for-health-protection-teams

It is essential that an oral fluid kit (OFK) is sent out to every notified case of measles, mumps and rubella, regardless of any other additional investigations ordered, as per the national measles guidelines. This is because the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is required to provide evidence to World Health Organization (WHO) that at least 80% of all suspected measles and rubella cases are being confirmed or discarded using appropriate tests. This is an important component of the commitments outlined in the UK Measles and Rubella Elimination Strategy.

OFKs can be sent out to cases as soon as they are notified and can be taken up to 8 weeks after onset of symptoms.

UKHSA/health protection teams (HPT) staff should follow the following steps in order to ensure an MMR oral fluid kit is despatched to every suspected measles and rubella case:

1. Download a blank MMR oral fluid laboratory request form and letter template and complete all the details in full:

a. Name 

b. Date of birth 

c. Sex  

d. NHS number 

e. Case CIMS number 

f. Clinical features 

g. Vaccination history  

h. GP details. If this is incomplete, the results may be sent to the wrong GP, breaching data protection and Caldicott guidance.  

i. Covering letter - add the patient name and address (without this information the OFK cannot be sent).

j. HPT letterhead and signature and save this document.

It is essential that all fields are complete and correct in order to ensure patients receive the kits and the laboratory can process the samples and interpret the results accordingly.

2. Email the request form and covering letter to Intelsius at ukhsaorders@intelsius.com using the secure egress system [footnote 1] as the document will include personally identifiable information (PII). The OFK will be prepared and posted directly to the patient on the same day (if email received by 3pm on a weekday) or the next working day if received after 3pm.

3. The OFK will be processed by the Virus Reference Department in the usual way. It will take about 3 weeks to generate the complete results which will then be:

  • sent to the GP by post or e-lab
  • copied to the Health Protection Team (via e-lab)

5. Please contact iduqueries@ukhsa.gov.uk to follow up any lab results.

6. You should have some MMR OFKs on site for any urgent measles testing required (as per national measles guidelines) using your usual pre-agreed routes. You can order these in batches through Intelsius.

7. Copies of all the forms, letters and instruction sheets are available to download.

  1. If the egress system is down, which will be notified via IT service desk emails, the OFK request emails should be paused until the egress system is up and running again. ↩

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