Australian national notifiable diseases case definitions
Rubella (congenital) case definition
This document contains the case definitions for congenital rubella syndrome which is nationally notifiable within Australia. This definition should be used to determine whether a case should be notified.
Communicable Diseases Surveillance
Australian national notifiable diseases case definitions - Congenital rubella syndrome
Reporting
Both confirmed casesand probable cases
should be notified.
Confirmed case
A confirmed case requires Laboratory definitive evidence AND clinical evidence.Laboratory definitive evidence
1. Isolation of rubella virus from the infantOR
2. Detection of rubella virus, in the infant, by nucleic acid testing
OR
3. Detection of rubella-specific IgM antibody in the serum of the infant AND confirmation of the result in a reference laboratory.
Clinical evidence
A live or still born infant with ANY of the following compatible defects: cataracts, congenital glaucoma, congenital heart disease, hearing defects, microcephaly, pigmentary retinopathy, mental retardation, purpura, hepatosplenomegaly, meningoencephalitis, radiolucent bone disease.Probable case
A probable case requires Laboratory suggestive evidence (either maternal or infant) AND clinical evidence.Laboratory suggestive evidence
Maternal evidence1. Isolation of rubella virus
OR
2. Detection of rubella virus by nucleic acid testing
3. IgG seroconversion or a significant increase in antibody level or a fourfold or greater rise in titre to rubella virus. This must be established by the testing of paired sera in parallel.
OR
4. Detection of rubella-specific IgM, in the absence of recent rubella vaccination AND confirmation of the result in a reference laboratory
OR
1. Detection of rubella-specific IgM in infant blood using capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
OR
2. Infant rubella-specific antibody that persists at a higher level and for a longer period than expected from passive transfer of maternal antibody (ie. rubella titre that does not drop at the expected rate of a twofold dilution per month).
Clinical evidence
As with confirmed case.
