Mumps - HAN

Two doses of MMR vaccine do not provide 100% protection against mumps; one dose is about 78% effective and two doses are about 88% effective.
- The preferred specimen is a parotid gland duct swab collected within 9 days (ideally 1-3 days) from parotitis onset.
- Massage the parotid (salivary) glands for 30 seconds.
- The swab specimen needs to be collected from the buccal cavity near Stensen’s duct, typically near the upper rear molars, between the cheek and teeth, though anatomy can be distorted with parotid gland swelling. Sweep the swab between the cheek and gum near the upper molar to the lower molar area. Synthetic swabs are preferred, such as a commercial product designed for the collection of throat specimens or a flocked polyester fiber swab.
- For sending to commercial lab: Call lab to confirm specimen criteria. Local labs that accept specimens for RT-PCR are below. In general, swabs should be placed in 3 ml of standard viral transport medium (VTM) or viral culture medium (VCM) and remain for at least 1 hour at 4°C. The swab can be broken off and left in the tube or discarded.
Lab | Test Code | Test Type | Specimen | Material | Shipping |
Quest Diagnostics | 70172 | RNA PT-PCR | Oral/Buccal Swab | Polyester Swab VCM Green Cap In 3ml of media | Refrigerated 7 days Frozen 30 Days |
ACL | PCRMUM | RNA RT-PCR | Oral/Buccal Swab | Polyester Swab VTM Red Cap | Refrigerated 7 Days Frozen 30 Days Sent to ARUP for processing (6 days) |
ARUP | 2009387 | RNA RT-PCR | Oral/Buccal Swab | Polyester Swab VTM Red Cap In 3ml of media | Refrigerated 7 Days Frozen 30 Days |
Infection control and patient counseling:
- Consider masking patients in the waiting room if they endorse or screen positive for cheek/jaw swelling.
- If mumps is suspected, provide surgical masks to the patient while awaiting laboratory results and counsel patients to wear the mask around others (including around family members) and avoid congregate settings for 5 days from the onset of parotitis.
Increase in Chicago Mumps Activity: Updated Guidance Chicago Health Alert issued April 16, 2018
Increased Reports of Parotitis and Instructions for Collecting Mumps RT-PCR Specimens Chicago Health Alert issued March 16, 2018
Mumps Surveillance in Illinois as Colleges and Universities Dismiss for Summer IDPH Memo issued May 7, 2018
Suspect Cases should be reported within 24 hours.
Do not wait for laboratory confirmation.
Complete the : Mumps Case Report Form
Fax Form To: (312)-746-6388
or Call the Provider Reporting Line: (312)-743-9000
Sign up for electronic reporting through the
Illinois National Electronic Disease & Surveillance System (I-NEDSS)
For Questions Contact:
312-743-9000
For Surveillance Questions Contact:
Enrique Ramirez, VPD epidemiologist
312-746-5911
For questions during non-business hours call 311. (312-744-5000 if outside the City of Chicago.)
Reporting: Suspect Cases should be reported within 24 Hours. Do not wait for laboratory confirmation.