Measles Lab Manual from the World Health Organization

Manual for the laboratory diagnosis of measles and rubella virus infection, 3rd edition, June 2018 from the World Health Organization (WHO)

This manual provides information about the WHO Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network. It contains detailed protocols for collection and handling of specimens for confirmation of measles and rubella infections. The manual describes both serologic and molecular methods as well as virus isolation. There is also information on biosafety and international shipping regulations. These techniques have been used successfully at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for investigation of measles and rubella outbreaks.

The development and progress of the WHO Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network was summarized in a 2016 article in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The WHO Manual for the Laboratory-based Surveillance of Measles, Rubella, and Congenital Rubella Syndrome is available on the WHO web site: